Hello from the DC federal courthouse, where special counsel prosecutors and Paul Manafort's lawyers are appearing to discuss a date for sentencing. Manafort has waived his appearance, so he's not expected to attend. On the new claims that Manafort lied: buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
The Manafort scheduling conference is underway (I'm in the media room, hence the ability to tweet). Perhaps noting the large crowd in the courtroom, the judge notes that today is *not* the sentencing hearing, just scheduling: "In case anyone is confused, this it not it."
Special counsel prosecutor Andrew Weissmann explains what obligations the govt contends it is relieved of since Manafort breached his deal, incl. no longer agreeing to a reduction for accepting responsibility and fully laying out *all* of Manafort's conduct before/after the deal
Weissmann says they're still deciding whether to go to try to go to trial in DC on the charges that the government was prepared to dismiss as part of the plea deal
The judge asks Weissmann if the government plans to bring more charges, given the "vocabulary" in the status report about Manafort's conduct. Weissmann says they haven't decided yet
Manafort's lawyer Kevin Downing says there are a lot of unknowns at this point, he says they should be entitled to some discovery about whatever allegations the government is making about an agreement breach by Manafort
Weissmann says the government has had lengthy discussions with Manafort's lawyers and they're aware of what the government's allegations are against Manafort re: a breach of agreement
Both sides are in agreement that they want the judge to rule on whether Manafort breached his plea deal before the probation department does its presentence report
We have a second sentencing date for Paul Manafort: March 5 at 10am (the judge said if they need to reschedule that depending on how things are going, they can push it back)
That's a wrap on today's Manafort scheduling hearing. Story coming shortly on all the activity in court this morniing
STORY: Special counsel prosecutors said in court today that they hadn't decided whether to bring more charges against Paul Manafort for allegedly lying after signing his plea deal (or whether to pursue a trial on charges they'd agreed to drop) buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
The judge in Paul Manafort's DC case has set a tentative sentencing date of March 5, but that could change depending on what happens with any fight over whether he breached his plea deal. He's already set for sentencing in Virginia on Feb. 8 buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
A judge will have to decide if, in fact, Paul Manafort violated his plea deal with the government. If he did, that relieves the government of its obligations, including agreeing to a reduction in prison time for acceptance of responsibility buzzfeednews.com/article/zoetil…
