Paul Manafort Fixes Rick Gates With Icy Glare as Former Associate Testifies Against Him in Court
Rick Gates, the business associate of President Donald Trump's former presidential campaign chairman Paul Manafort, detailed crimes he said he committed with his former boss, and testified that he stole from him.
Gates, who is the prosecution's star witness in the Manafort trial, testified that Manafort was behind most of the illegal schemes they participated in.
Manafort fixed Gates with an icy glare as his former associate gave his account in a packed courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia.
Manafort is on trial for tax and bank fraud charges filed by prosecutors as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into the Trump campaign and Russia's involvement in the 2016 presidential election. If convicted on all counts, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.
Managort has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which do not relate to Russia's campaign to influence the election.
On day five of the trial, Gates testified to helping Manafort doctor financial statements, hide foreign income and cheat on his taxes. He said he engaged in the wrongdoing under Manafort's direction.
Gates said he was aware that Manafort was acting as an unregistered foreign agent in lobbying for Ukraine.
He also said he stole several hundred thousand dollars from his former business associate by filing false expense reports.
Manafort's defense hinges on pinning the blame on Gates, who Manafort's lawyers accuse of embezzling millions of dollars from Manafort.
The jury has heard how Manafort made tens of millions of dollars for his work with pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine.
Gates struck a plea deal with prosecutors in February, pleading guilty to two charges of conspiracy and lying to the FBI. He faces up to six years in prison under the terms of the deal.
