Politics

Ex-Trump campaign boss Paul Manafort taken in handcuffs to New York court for arraignment

Key Points
  • Paul Manafort is taken to a New York courthouse in handcuffs for arraignment on state criminal charges, the latest legal peril for the former chief of President Trump's 2016 campaign.
  • The charges were lodged by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. right after Manafort was sentenced the second time for federal charges.
  • A long-time Republican operative, Manafort was convicted last year in federal court in Virginia of bank fraud, tax fraud and failing to file a foreign bank account. He pleaded guilty soon afterward in federal court in Washington, D.C., to conspiracy.

Paul Manafort was taken to a New York courthouse in handcuffs Thursday for arraignment on state criminal charges, the latest arena of legal peril for the former chief of President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign.

Clad in prison togs, the 70-year-old Manafort looked tired with his gray hair long and mussed as he entered the courthouse in lower Manhattan, according to images published by Big Apple tabloid newspapers.

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Manafort was known before his convictions as a snazzy dresser who dropped tens of thousands of dollars on his wardrobe. During his trial last year, prosecutors introduced evidence about Manafort's $15,000 ostrich jacket.

He was brought to New York from a federal prison in Pennsylvania, where he has been serving his combined 7½-year federal prison term.

At his arraignment, due to start Thursday afternoon, Manafort planned to plead not guilty to felony charges of mortgage fraud, conspiracy and falsifying business records in New York state.

The charges were lodged by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. after Manafort was sentenced the second time for federal charges.

A long-time Republican operative, Manafort was convicted last year in federal court in Virginia on charges of bank fraud, tax fraud and failing to file a foreign bank account. He pleaded guilty soon afterward in federal court in Washington, D.C., to conspiracy.

Paul Manafort sentenced to more than seven years in prison
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Paul Manafort sentenced to more than seven years in prison