Judge in Paul Manafort trial says he has been threatened and is now under U.S. Marshal protection

• By Dan Mangan | Kevin Breuninger, www.cnbc.com
• Посмотреть оригинал
• август 17-го, 2018

Former Donald Trump presidential campaign manager Paul Manafort

Getty Images

Judge T.S. Ellis, the man presiding over the criminal trial of former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort, said Friday that he has received threats about the case — and now travels with protection from United States Marshals.

Speaking at a hearing outside of jurors' presence, Ellis also said he has no plan to release the names and home addresses of those 12 people now deliberating Manafort's fate because he is worried about their "peace and safety."
"I had no idea this case would excite these emotions," Ellis said, as jurors continued their second day of deliberations in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Va. "I don't feel right if I release their names."
Media outlets had requested the names and addresses of the jurors be unsealed. They also were asking Ellis to unseal discussions and records from Manafort's trial, where he is charged with bank fraud and tax crimes.

This Aug. 7, 2018 courtroom sketch depicts Rick Gates, right, testifying during questioning in the bank fraud and tax evasion trial of Paul Manafort at federal court in Alexandria, Va. The judge is T.S. Elliot III.

AP

Ellis noted that some material in the case has also been sealed from public view because of concern that releasing it would interfere in ongoing investigations.

Manafort is being prosecuted by members the team of special counsel Robert Mueller.

Mueller is investigating possible obstruction of justice by President Donald Trump in the inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, and possible collusion by members of Trump's campaign with that Kremlin-backed effort.

Trump has adamantly denied any wrongdoing.

The case against Manafort relates to income he earned while working for a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine, before he became involved in the Trump campaign. Manafort is also accused of lying to banks in requests for loans, which prosecutors claim he obtained to continue funding his lavish lifestyle after income from the Ukrainian party dried up.