Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort on Monday appealed a federal judge’s decision to jail him on charges that he attempted to influence the testimony of two potential witnesses against him.
Mr. Manafort’s attorneys filed court papers saying they intend to have the D.C. Court of Appeals review the order by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson.
Defense attorneys are also appealing Judge Jackson’s dismissal of a civil suit Mr. Manafort brought earlier this year challenging special counsel Robert Mueller’s authority to prosecute him.
The one-page filing challenging the jail order did not offer any insight into the legal arguments Mr. Manafort’s attorneys may invoke.
During the June 15 hearing at which Judge Jackson revoked Mr. Manafort’s bail, defense lawyer Richard Westering asked for more time so the defense could appeal the order, but she refused. Mr. Westerling indicated a bail issue could be the crux of that argument, but did not provide more details.
Judge Jackson remanded Mr. Manafort into custody after a new indictment was unsealed accusing him and a “longtime associate” of tamping with potential witnesses. The latest indictment added conspiracy abd obstruction of justice to the litany of charges already been lodged against President Trump’s former campaign chief.
Mr. Manafort already faces criminal trials for charges brought by Mr. Mueller. One will occur in Washington, before Judge Jackson, on charges of money laundering and failing to register as a foreign lobbyist. The other case, in front of U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis in Alexandria, Virginia, accuses Mr. Manafort of tax evasion, bank fraud and failing to report foreign back accounts to the IRS.
Mr. Manafort has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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