WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the trial of Paul Manafort (all times local):
5:30 p.m.
A federal judge has denied a request to relocate the trial of Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman.
Manafort’s lawyers sought to move his upcoming trial from Alexandria, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C. region, to Roanoke, Virginia.
The lawyers cited extensive pretrial publicity in the case and the fact that potential jurors in Alexandria were more likely to have supported Hillary Clinton than Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
In a ruling Tuesday, U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III says there’s no reason to think Manafort can’t get a fair trial in Alexandria.
The trial is slated to begin next week. It is the first arising from the investigation of special counsel Robert Mueller, who is examining potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign.
__
4:25 p.m.
Special counsel Robert Mueller is seeking immunity for five potential witnesses in the upcoming trial of President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort.
Mueller’s office told a federal judge in Virginia on Tuesday that they were seeking to compel the witnesses to testify under condition of immunity.
Prosecutors have not identified the witnesses and say they have not been publicly identified with the case.
Prosecutors say the witnesses have indicated they won’t testify “on the basis of their privilege against self-incrimination.” Prosecutors say that if they do testify, they are requesting “use immunity.” That means the government couldn’t use their statements against them.
Manafort is scheduled for trial on financial charges starting next week in Alexandria, Virginia.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.