(Bloomberg) -- The federal judge slated to sentence Paul Manafort postponed the date when she’ll announce how long he should spend in prison, saying she wants to hear more about whether he lied to investigators after pledging to cooperate with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe.
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson held a hearing of more than four hours Monday in a sealed courtroom to consider secret evidence gathered by the government. A court officer cleared the Washington courtroom before she took the bench.
Late Monday, Jackson said she’d hold another closed-door session on Feb. 13 and rescheduled the former political strategist’s sentencing date from March 5 to March 13.
Prior to the start of Monday’s hearing, thick loose-leaf binders could be seen near lawyers for the government and Manafort. President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, who is being held in jail following his conviction for fraud and other crimes, wasn’t in the courtroom when reporters were ejected, but was present at the hearing, according to one of his lawyers.
Attorneys declined to comment on the proceeding. The judge had said a redacted transcript of the hearing would be made available to the public. She gave the two sides until the close of business Wednesday to submit proposed redactions to the transcript and to file any supplemental documents by noon on Feb. 8.
Jackson’s decision on Manafort’s alleged breach of his deal with Mueller could influence how harshly she sentences him.
©2019 Bloomberg L.P.
RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
POPULAR