Giuliani: Manafort Has Not Incriminated Trump In Interviews With Mueller
Rudy Giuliani claims that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has not provided incriminating information on President Donald Trump during his many hours of interviews with the special counsels office.
Trump has maintained a joint defense agreement with Manafort, even after the longtime Republican operative entered a plea agreement with special counsel Robert Mueller in September.
Giuliani, who is serving as one of Trumps lawyers in the Russia probe, told Reuters that he spoke last week with Manafort lawyer Kevin Downing, who said his client did not provide damaging information on Trump.
“Hes just telling me the conclusion that hes not in a conflicted position with us,” Giuliani said.
“If he wants to communicate information, Manafort, hes allowed to do that. Theres nothing that stops him from doing that,” added Giuliani. “All Im interested in is: Is there anything we need to know with regard to us?”
Manafort has met at least a half-dozen times with the special counsels office since entering a plea deal on Sept. 14. (RELATED: Manafort Cooperating With Mueller After Plea Deal)
Manafort was convicted in Virginia on Aug. 21 on money laundering and bank fraud charges related to his work for a Ukrainian political party. He entered a cooperation agreement with Mueller just before he was set to go to trial in Washington, D.C. on illegal lobbying charges for the Ukraine work.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump embraces former New York City Mayor Rudolf Giuliani at a campaign rally in Greenville, North Carolina, U.S., September 6, 2016. REUTERS/Mike Segar
The question looming over Manaforts plea agreement has been whether he was providing investigators with information on Trump, the campaign, or other matters.
Manafort joined the Trump team in April 2016 and left that August, after news reports detailed his work in Ukraine. Rick Gates, a former Manafort business partner who was his deputy on the campaign, entered a plea agreement in February. He testified against Manafort in the Virginia trial.
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