The former campaign chairman of Donald Trump, Paul Manafort sentenced to 73 months on 2 charges. These charges include the conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to obstruct justice after he attempted to tamper with witnesses. The total sentence of Manafort in the 2 hearings he has faced in recent weeks amounts to 90 months or seven years and 6 months in prison. On Wednesday, Manafort asked Judge Amy Berman Jackson for mercy. He said the criminal charges against him have taken everything from him already. He pleaded with the judge not to impose any additional prison time beyond the roughly 4-year sentence he received in a separate case during last week.
The 69-years old Paul Manafort arrived in court in a wheelchair. He said in a calm and steady voice as he read from a written statement. Manafort said, “I am sorry for what I have done and all the activities that have gotten us here today. While I cannot undo the past, I will ensure that the future will be very different”. He said he was the primary caregiver of his wife and needed the chance for them to resume their life together. He added, “She needs me and I need her. I ask you to think of this and our need for each other as you deliberate. This case has taken everything from me already, my properties, my cash, my life insurance, and my trust accounts for my children and my grandchildren too”.
The U.S Federal Prosecutor Andrew Weissmann declared his assessment of crimes. He said Manafort took steps to conceal his foreign lobbying work. He laundered millions of dollars to fund a lavish lifestyle and then coached other witnesses to lie on his behalf. Weissmann said, “I believe that is not reflective of someone who has learned a harsh lesson. It is not a reflection of remorse. It is evidence that something is wrong with sort of a moral compass. And that someone in that position would choose to make that decision at that moment”.