Paul Manafort, prosecutors reach tentative deal to avoid second trial, sources say
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has reached a tentative deal with federal prosecutors to avoid his upcoming trial on charges related to his foreign lobbying work, two sources familiar with the case tell CBS News.
The details of the agreement are expected to be revealed at a court hearing at 11 a.m. Friday.
ABC News first reported that the two sides had reached a tentative agreement. Manafort's legal team has been meeting with prosecutors from the special counsel's office to negotiate a plea deal. It's unclear whether Manafort has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Doing so could jeopardize his chances at a presidential pardon.
In August, Manafort was found guilty on eight out of 18 counts of financial crimes in his first trial in Virginia. The jury was deadlocked on the remaining 10 counts, which ended in mistrial.
Manafort faces a second trial on charges he acted as an unregistered foreign agent for Ukraine, conspired to launder money and tampered with witnesses. The trial is scheduled to get underway in Washington on Sept. 24. A plea deal on the charges would preclude the need for a trial, sparing Manafort the steep legal fees of a second round of prosecution.
In August, Manafort's attorneys filed a motion requesting the trial be moved from Washington to Roanoke, Virginia. A judge denied the request. Manafort has been in jail since June 15 when a judge revoked his bail for violating the terms of his release.
Reporting by Paula Reid and Clare Hymes.
