- The Washington Times - Monday, February 4, 2019

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. on Monday pushed back the sentencing of President Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort by about one week to March 13.

The delay comes after U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson heard arguments in a closed-door hearing on Manafort knowingly lied to prosecutors, violating his plea deal.

Judge Jackson did not rule on the allegations but ordered the parties to return to court for a second sealed hearing on the matter on February 13, according to court filings.

A transcript of the hearing will be made available as soon as possible, Judge Jackson said last week. The parties have until Friday of this week to submit any proposed redactions.

She also pushed back his sentencing by one week from the original date of March 5.

Special counsel Robert Mueller has alleged Manafort lied to investigators about multiple topics, including his interactions with a former business associate who has ties to the Kremlin.

Defense attorneys say Manafort did not intentionally mislead investigators but rather struggled to remember facts that occurred more than a decade ago or during the pressure of a presidential campaign.

Manafort was scheduled to be sentenced Friday on related, but separate charges in Virginia. However, that sentencing was postponed by District Judge T.S. Ellis, who said he wanted to wait until the Washington allegations were sussed out.

• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.

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