Paul Manafort Strikes Plea Deal, Is Cooperating With Justice Department

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 15: Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse for a hearing on June 15, 2018 in Washington, DC. Today a federal judge revoked Manafort's bail due to alleged witness tampering. Manafort was indicted last year by a federal grand jury and has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him including, conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, and being an unregistered agent of a foreign principal. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

The man many thought would never turn on Donald Trump is now reportedly cooperating with investigators as part of a plea deal. The Wall Street Journal reports:

Paul Manafort reached a deal to plead guilty to two criminal charges Friday, according to court documents, a move that heads off a second criminal trial for the former Trump campaign chairman.

Mr. Manafort, who becomes the fifth associate of President Trump to plead guilty in connection with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, is expected to admit to conspiracy against the U.S. and conspiracy to obstruct justice.

BREAKING: Prosecutors say Paul Manafort's plea deal includes 17 page cooperation agreement.

— justin jouvenal (@jjouvenal) September 14, 2018

??? Paul Manafort has agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department. Prosecutor Andrew Weissmann told the judge his plea agreement is a "cooperation agreement," and the other charges they will drop at sentencing at "or at the agreement of successful cooperation.”

— erica orden (@eorden) September 14, 2018

This is MAJOR.@evanperez & @ShimonPro are reporting: Paul Manafort — Trump's former campaign chair — has agreed to COOPERATE with the Justice Department. This is what Bob Mueller wanted. THE question: does this involve Trump at all? #CNN

— Brooke Baldwin (@BrookeBCNN) September 14, 2018

Here’s the response from the White House.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders statement on Manafort provided to the Pool:

"This had absolutely nothing to do with the President or his victorious 2016 Presidential campaign. It is totally unrelated.”

— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) September 14, 2018

The president’s legal team put out an initial statement that said: “the President did nothing wrong and Paul Manafort will tell the truth.” Minutes later, they put out a new statement that said simply: “the President did nothing wrong.”

— Eamon Javers (@EamonJavers) September 14, 2018

New statement: “Once again an investigation has concluded with a plea having nothing to do with President Trump or the Trump campaign. The reason: the President did nothing wrong.” – Rudy Giuliani Counsel to the President.

— Eamon Javers (@EamonJavers) September 14, 2018