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Bombshell: Eight years ago Paul Manafort was investigated for the very same charges he has since been indicted for by special counsel Robert Mueller. Fox News legal analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano made this point on Wednesday during an appearance on the network’s morning show, “Fox & Friends.” What’s more, a legal team led by current Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein was responsible for exonerating Manafort, as Napolitano reminded the audience.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s prosecutors were lectured by a federal judge on Wednesday for the language they’ve used in the courtroom, as the trial of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort entered its second day. U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III specifically told prosecutors to stop using the word “oligarch” to describe wealthy Ukrainians, whose dealings with Manafort are at the heart of the fraud charges he faces in northern Virginia federal court. The judge said the term has a “pejorative” meaning and is not relevant in this case. Further, he cautioned that using it could suggest Manafort is associated...

During opening arguments this week, the defense team made it clear they intend to blame Gates, who handled some day-to-day business operations for Manafort, for many of the alleged reporting deficiencies Manafort is charged with. Manafort, facing charges of bank and tax fraud related to his work in Ukraine, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Before the jury entered the courtroom on Thursday, there was renewed discussion about whether pictures of Manafort’s clothing and other expensive purchases could be presented during the trial. Ellis repeated that he will not allow the prosecution “to gild the lily.” “It could become...

Mueller’s prosecutors sent shockwaves through the Alexandria, VA courtroom Wednesday morning when they admitted Manafort’s former business associate Rick Gates may not testify. Rick Gates previously pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with Mueller; he was even referred to as the Special Counsel’s ‘star witness.’ Judge T.S. Ellis blasted Uso Asonye, Mueller’s prosecutor who told him Rick Gates may not testify. In a shocking admission Wednesday morning, federal prosecutors said Rick Gates may not testify in the trial of his former business partner Paul Manafort. Mr. Gates, who oversaw some of the financial dealings of Mr. Manafort’s consulting business, was...

1 hr 10 min ago Prosecutors tell jury that Manafort owns a $15,000 ostrich jacket From CNN's Marshall Cohen In opening statements Tuesday, prosecutors detailed Paul Manafort's "extravagant lifestyle," and said it was funded by "secret income" that he earned from his lobbying in Ukraine. To demonstrate Manafort's lavish spending habits, Uzo Asonye, a prosecutor working on the case with special counsel Robert Mueller's team, pointed to specific details: Asonye told jurors that Manafort owned several homes and acquired real estate in New York and Virginia. Prosecutors said he bought expensive cars and watches. Manafort even got a $15,000 jacket...

The first trial to emerge from special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe is set to start Tuesday when former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort appears before a federal judge in Alexandria, Virginia. Mr. Manafort is facing 18 criminal counts, including bank and tax fraud, which could net him 30 years in prison. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The charges stem from Mr. Manafort’s lobbying in the Ukraine on behalf of politicians with ties to Russia. Prosecutors have alleged he was paid more than $60 million for his work, which includes support of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yankovich....

A federal judge in Virginia agreed Monday to grant immunity to five potential witnesses in Paul Manafort’s upcoming trial — but, in a blow to special counsel Robert Mueller, said their identities would be made public. Mueller’s team wanted the identities of their witnesses to remain confidential, saying in a filing last week that they haven’t been criminally charged and not naming them would avoid “undue harassment.” But Judge T.S. Ellis, a Ronald Reagan appointee, said they would be identified. He also ordered Mueller’s office to provide a list of about 30 witnesses to Manafort’s lawyers. President Trump’s ex-campaign chairman...

Special counsel Robert Mueller's prosecutors reportedly plan to call witnesses from the FBI, IRS and Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network during former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort's trial. Politico reported that one of the lead investigators made the announcement at a pretrial hearing on Tuesday as the judge presiding over the case laid out broad parameters to potential jurors, including a timeline of Manafort's alleged crimes. On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis III ordered Mueller to turn over its full witness list of about 30 people, Politico noted. The news site reports that Ellis said on Tuesday...

•A federal judge has postponed until July 31 the start of the upcoming trial of President Donald Trump's former campaign chief Paul Manafort. •The judge also has granted immunity to five potential witnesses for their testimony against Manafort, who is charged with crimes related to his consulting and lobbying work for a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine. •Prosecutors in the office of special counsel Robert Mueller had asked for so-called use immunity for the five witnesses, which would bar their testimony at Manafort's trial from being used against them in a criminal prosecution. A federal judge has postponed from Wednesday...

A federal judge in Virginia agreed Monday to grant immunity to five potential witnesses in Paul Manafort’s upcoming trial — but, in a blow to Special Counsel Robert Mueller, said their identities would be made public. Mueller’s team wanted the identities of their witnesses to remain confidential, saying in a filing last week that they haven’t been criminally charged and to avoid “undue harassment.” But Judge T.S. Ellis, a Ronald Reagan appointee, said they would be identified. He also ordered Mueller’s office to provide a list of about 30 witnesses to Manafort’s lawyers.

Special counsel Robert Mueller said in a court filing Friday that his prosecutors will not present evidence regarding Trump campaign collusion with Russia at an upcoming trial for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. “The government does not intend to present at trial evidence or argument concerning collusion with the Russian government,” reads a filing submitted by Mueller’s team in federal court in Virginia on Friday.