Manafort trial: Jury deliberates for third day without verdict as Trump hits out at Mueller probe
Former Trump campaign chairman faces 18 criminal charges
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Your support makes all the difference.The jury in the financial fraud trial of Donald Trump‘s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, has finished its third day of deliberations without a verdict.
Judge TS Ellis said the jury would reconvene on Tuesday morning.
The case is the first to go to trial stemming from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 US presidential election, although the charges largely predate Mr Manafort's five months working on President Trump's successful campaign.
Mr Manafort faces five counts of filing false tax returns, four counts of failing to disclose offshore bank accounts, and nine counts of bank fraud. If convicted on all the charges, he could spend the rest of his life in prison. Mr Manafort denies all the charges against him.
A conviction would undermine efforts by Trump and some Republican llegislators to paint Mr Mueller's Russia inquiry as a political witch hunt, while an acquittal would be a setback for the special counsel.
As the jury deliberated, Mr Trump accused Mr Mueller's team of “enjoying ruining people's lives” and trying to influence the elections in November when Republicans will try to hold on to control of Congress.
“Mueller's Angry Dems are looking to impact the election. They are a National Disgrace!” Mr Trump wrote on Twitter.
Mr Trump's tweets were in reference to a New York Times report that White House Counsel Don McGahn had cooperated extensively with Mr Mueller.
Reuters
Outside of the trial, Mr Trump has again taken aim at Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation in a number of tweets. The president has repeatedly called the probe a "witch hunt".
Judge Ellis has only one case on the docket for today. Here is some more on the the colourful judge that is presiding over the trial.
There is no doubt that the Manafort verdict will affect President Trump - whether he gets to laud a not guilty verdict, or not.
CNN's Chris Cillizza is calling the verdict part of a "critical moment" for Mr Trump's time in the White House.
A Manafort conviction would undermine efforts by Donald Trump and some Republican lawmakers to paint Robert Mueller's Russia inquiry as a political witch hunt, while an acquittal would be a setback for the special counsel.
In a break with convention, Mr Trump weighed in on the trial on Friday, calling the case against Mr Manafort at the federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, "very sad" and lauding his former associate as a "very good person."
The jury in the financial fraud trial of Paul Manafort are still currently deliberating.
Jurors would normally be let go for he evening at 5.30pm ET, so about 45 minutes from now.
Looks like Judge TS Ellis has been talking to the lawyers again - the third bench conference of the day.
The judge says the jury will deliberate until 6.15pm.
We end the day with no verdict, so the jurors will be back tomorrow at 9.30am ET.
With that we are ending our coverage for today. Thanks for reading.
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