Former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos is going to be sentenced this afternoon. This is the first time we'll see him in court — when he pleaded guilty on Oct. 5, it was in a sealed hearing. Our first story on him: buzzfeednews.com/article/buzzfe…
Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to one count of lying to the FBI. He admitted misleading agents about his comms with people who said they had connections to Russia during the campaign. You'll recall he's the one who said a professor told him the Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton
Papadopoulos is asking for no jail time: buzzfeednews.com/article/chrisg… Yes he lied, his lawyers said, but it was to try and protect his career and out of a "perhaps misguided" loyalty to Trump, not to actively hinder the investigation. He's cooperated as part of the plea deal
The special counsel's office wants Papadopoulos to serve at least some prison time, suggesting a sentence between 0-6 months: buzzfeednews.com/article/salvad… They say his lies hurt the investigation, and noted that Alex van der Zwaan pleaded to the same charge and got a month behind bars
Papadopoulos's sentencing hearing is set to begin at 3 p.m. before US District Judge Randolph Moss. Stay tuned.
Judge is taking a quick break before announcing George Papadopoulos's sentence. Papadopoulos spoke, saying that when he lied to FBI agents on Jan. 27, 2017, shortly after Trump's inauguration, he was "young and ambitious and wanted to serve my country at the highest levels"
Papadopoulos's lawyer suggested that Trump's characterization of the Russia probe as a "witch hunt" and fake around the time of Papadopoulos's interview in Jan. 2017 influenced Papadopoulos. Lawyer said Trump hindered the investigation "more than George Papadopoulos ever could"
Papadopoulos is asking for probation, the government is asking for at least some prison time. Prosecutor said Papadopoulos could have come forward to correct false statements, but chose not to. Stay tuned.
