Aug 27, 2018 - Politics & Policy

Report: Manafort's legal team discussed plea deal

Alayna Treene

Paul Manafort buttons up his jacket as he walks toward the courthouse — Paul Manafort arrives for a court hearing. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

Prior to his conviction last week, former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort's legal defense team discussed a potential plea deal with prosecutors in the hopes of avoiding a second trial, but the negotiations failed, the Wall Street Journal's Aruna Viswanatha reports.

Why it matters: President Trump praised Manafort following his guilty verdict, calling him a "brave man" for not caving into pressure to make a deal — unlike Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to his charges.

The details: The plea negotiations took place while the Virginia jury was deliberating over Manafort's verdict, writes Viswanatha, but failed due to issues raised by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. It's unclear what those issues were.

What's next: Manafort faces a second round of charges in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. in September

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Report: Manafort's legal team discussed plea deal

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