Former Trump campaign chairman <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/paul-manafort-lied-during-interviews-with-prosecutors-robert-mueller-182331">Paul Manafort</a> could face a much longer prison sentence than expected after a Washington judge ruled Wednesday that he had broken his plea deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

Federal district judge Amy Berman Jackson agreed with prosecutors that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-manafort-pardon-not-off-the-table-interview-180174">Manafort had "intentionally"</a> lied to investigators about his contacts with a suspected Russian operative, Konstantin Kilimnik in 2016 and 2017, despite having pledged to cooperate as part of his September plea agreement.

Jackson also ruled that Manafort had lied about a secretive payment he made to a law firm, and lied on another occasion when investigators queried him about a separate, still secret investigation related to the Mueller probe.

The ruling meant that Mueller no longer has to abide by the deal, in which Manafort agreed to plead guilty to two reduced conspiracy charges, carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

It could also elevate whatever punishment arises from the 69-year-old's guilty verdict in a separate jury trial last year in Virginia.

Mueller's side is "no longer bound by its obligations under the plea agreement, including its promise to support a reduction" in Manafort's sentence, Jackson said.

Theoretically, that could mean Manafort is also vulnerable to new charges, though prosecutors have indicated they want to move quickly to sentencing and not spend more time on the case.

The breakdown of the deal set back what had been seen as a major success of the 21-month-old Mueller probe in turning Manafort into a possible key witness against President Donald Trump, his family and other top aides.

Manafort is one of seven former Trump campaign associates who have been charged by Mueller's team.

He was convicted in August in a Virginia court on eight charges of banking and tax fraud related to his work for Russia-backed political parties in Ukraine between 2004 and 2014.

He was separately charged in Washington with money laundering, witness tampering and other offenses, which were consolidated into the two conspiracy charges in the plea bargain.

- 'Deep secrets' - 
The mostly secret arguments over the lying accusations in between December and February bared tantalizing hints at possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, the core of the Mueller investigation.

While he now faces spending possibly the rest of his life in prison, Mueller's team and analysts say Manafort may have lied to protect Trump in hopes of getting a pardon.

Telling the truth would have "negative consequences in terms of the other motive that Mr. Manafort could have, which is to at least augment his chances for a pardon," one of Mueller's prosecutors told the court.

"I think Paul Manafort is protecting deep, deep secrets that if he told them, would probably put himself and his family and the president, his best chance at a pardon, at risk," Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell told CNN Thursday.

In a November 28 interview with the New York Post, two days after prosecutors accused Manafort of breaking the plea deal, Trump left the possibility of a pardon dangling.

"It was never discussed, but I wouldn't take it off the table. Why would I take it off the table?" he said.

"You know this flipping stuff is terrible," he added about Mueller's efforts to get people like Manafort to cooperate.

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort could face a much longer prison sentence than expected after a Washington judge ruled Wednesday that he had broken his plea deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.

Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort could face a much longer prison sentence than expected after a Washington judge ruled Wednesday that he had broken his plea deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Federal district judge Amy Berman Jackson agreed with prosecutors that Manafort had "intentionally" lied to investigators about his contacts with a suspected Russian operative, Konstantin Kilimnik in 2016 and 2017, despite having pledged to cooperate as part of his September plea agreement. Jackson also ruled that Manafort had lied about a secretive payment he made to a law firm, and lied on another occasion when investigators queried him about a separate, still secret investigation related to the Mueller probe. The ruling meant that Mueller no longer has to abide by the deal, in which Manafort agreed to plead guilty to two reduced conspiracy charges, carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. It could also elevate whatever punishment arises from the 69-year-old's guilty verdict in a separate jury trial last year in Virginia. Mueller's side is "no longer bound by its obligations under the plea agreement, including its promise to support a reduction" in Manafort's sentence, Jackson said. Theoretically, that could mean Manafort is also vulnerable to new charges, though prosecutors have indicated they want to move quickly to sentencing and not spend more time on the case. The breakdown of the deal set back what had been seen as a major success of the 21-month-old Mueller probe in turning Manafort into a possible key witness against President Donald Trump, his family and other top aides. Manafort is one of seven former Trump campaign associates who have been charged by Mueller's team. He was convicted in August in a Virginia court on eight charges of banking and tax fraud related to his work for Russia-backed political parties in Ukraine between 2004 and 2014. He was separately charged in Washington with money laundering, witness tampering and other offenses, which were consolidated into the two conspiracy charges in the plea bargain. - 'Deep secrets' - The mostly secret arguments over the lying accusations in between December and February bared tantalizing hints at possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, the core of the Mueller investigation. While he now faces spending possibly the rest of his life in prison, Mueller's team and analysts say Manafort may have lied to protect Trump in hopes of getting a pardon. Telling the truth would have "negative consequences in terms of the other motive that Mr. Manafort could have, which is to at least augment his chances for a pardon," one of Mueller's prosecutors told the court. "I think Paul Manafort is protecting deep, deep secrets that if he told them, would probably put himself and his family and the president, his best chance at a pardon, at risk," Democratic Representative Eric Swalwell told CNN Thursday. In a November 28 interview with the New York Post, two days after prosecutors accused Manafort of breaking the plea deal, Trump left the possibility of a pardon dangling. "It was never discussed, but I wouldn't take it off the table. Why would I take it off the table?" he said. "You know this flipping stuff is terrible," he added about Mueller's efforts to get people like Manafort to cooperate.

Ex-Trump aide Paul Manafort lied 'intentionally' to investigators on suspected Russian operative: US judge

Russian President Vladimir Putin told<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-democrats-urge-acting-attorney-general-to-step-aside-from-russia-probe-176775"> US vice president Mike Pence</a> that Russia had nothing to do with meddling in the 2016 US election, Interfax reported on Monday, during discussions about an upcoming meeting between Putin and President Donald Trump.

Putin and Pence spoke in Singapore last week about key issues that could be discussed at the meeting between the two leaders, expected to take place at the G20 summit in Argentina in late November, a Kremlin spokesman said.

Pence raised the issue of external meddling in the US election but Putin told him that "the Russian state had nothing to do ... and can not have anything to do with meddling" in any electoral processes, Interfax quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying.

Last week, President Trump had called the Russia investigations as "disgrace to the nation", after he fired attorney general Jeff Sessions.

"They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want," Trump wrote on Twitter.

"They are a disgrace to our Nation and don't care how many lives (they) ruin."

Amid the row, top Democrats stepped up pressure on acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to step aside from overseeing a special counsel probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, vowing to order him to testify early next year.

Democrats have increasingly expressed alarm since last week, when President Donald Trump ordered Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign and replaced him with Whitaker, Sessions' chief of staff.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told US vice president Mike Pence that Russia had nothing to do with meddling in the 2016 US election, Interfax reported on Monday, during discussions about an upcoming meeting between Putin and President Donald Trump.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told US vice president Mike Pence that Russia had nothing to do with meddling in the 2016 US election, Interfax reported on Monday, during discussions about an upcoming meeting between Putin and President Donald Trump. Putin and Pence spoke in Singapore last week about key issues that could be discussed at the meeting between the two leaders, expected to take place at the G20 summit in Argentina in late November, a Kremlin spokesman said. Pence raised the issue of external meddling in the US election but Putin told him that "the Russian state had nothing to do ... and can not have anything to do with meddling" in any electoral processes, Interfax quoted Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. Last week, President Trump had called the Russia investigations as "disgrace to the nation", after he fired attorney general Jeff Sessions. "They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want," Trump wrote on Twitter. "They are a disgrace to our Nation and don't care how many lives (they) ruin." Amid the row, top Democrats stepped up pressure on acting US Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to step aside from overseeing a special counsel probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election, vowing to order him to testify early next year. Democrats have increasingly expressed alarm since last week, when President Donald Trump ordered Attorney General Jeff Sessions to resign and replaced him with Whitaker, Sessions' chief of staff.

Russia had nothing to do with meddling in 2016 US elections: Putin to US vice president Pence

Jeff Sessions, a longtime senator until President Donald Trump picked him as US attorney general, heads to Congress this coming week when he will face a grilling about his Russian interactions.

Sessions, among the earliest high-profile backers of Trump&#39;s election campaign, appears before his former colleagues Tuesday, days after explosive testimony by ousted FBI director James Comey, whose removal he recommended.

Concerns have been raised about whether Sessions helped otherwise subvert the ongoing Russia-related investigations.

&quot;This is going to prompt a lot of questions for him,&quot; the panel&#39;s top Democrat, Senator Patrick Leahy, told AFP of an appearance in which lawmakers will be eager to learn what role Sessions played in Comey&#39;s firing last month.

The Senate Appropriations Committee had called in the attorney general to testify about budget issues. But on Saturday, after senators made clear they would zero in on Sessions&#39;s connections to Russia, Sessions shifted his plan, opting to address the Senate Intelligence Committee.

&quot;In light of reports regarding Mr Comey&#39;s recent testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, it is important that I have an opportunity to address these matters,&quot; Sessions said in a letter announcing the change.

The intelligence panel &quot;is the most appropriate forum for such matters, as it has been conducting an investigation and has access to relevant, classified information,&quot; he added.

With reports circulating that Trump had been clashing with his attorney general, and that Sessions had offered to resign, the White House on Tuesday declined to say whether the president maintained confidence in Sessions.

And in a stunning moment of inside-the-Beltway intrigue, Comey dropped a bombshell about why he and other top FBI officials concluded that the attorney general was going to recuse himself from the probe.

&quot;We also were aware of facts that I can&#39;t discuss in an open setting that would make his continued engagement in a Russia-related investigation problematic,&quot; Comey said.

&nbsp;

&#39;Something big&#39;

Although Sessions, a&nbsp;70-year-old from the southern state of Alabama who served 20 years in the Senate, backed Trump&#39;s campaign, he was also one of the first administration officials to fly into turbulence. During his January confirmation hearing he failed to disclose meetings he held with Russian officials.

On March 1, The Washington Post reported that he met twice with the Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, during the campaign.

The following day, Sessions recused himself from the Russia probe, and several top Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, demanded he resign. Sessions refused.

He may also be under a cloud of suspicion after Comey, in his devastating testimony, suggested the attorney general may have failed to take appropriate steps to protect the FBI chief.

At the conclusion of a February 14 meeting in the White House, Comey testified, Trump urged everyone else but Comey to leave the Oval Office, including Sessions.

&quot;My impression was, something big is about to happen,&quot; Comey said, as he recalled the encounter. &quot;My sense was the attorney general knew he shouldn&#39;t be leaving,&quot; Comey added.&nbsp;

When the two men were alone, the ex-FBI director said, Trump urged Comey to stop the investigation into fired national security advisor Michael Flynn.

In written testimony Comey said he told Sessions it was &quot;inappropriate&quot; for him to leave the FBI director alone with the president, and that Sessions &quot;did not reply&quot;.

With Sessions already under fire for failing to disclose the two meetings with Russians, CNN reported last week that investigators were looking into a possible third Sessions meeting with Kislyak, on the sidelines of an April 27, 2016 campaign event in Washington.

Despite his recusal, Sessions in May signed a letter to Trump recommending he remove Comey, the man overseeing the investigation into Russian election meddling and the possible Russia-Trump nexus.

Lawmakers and critics have expressed concern about any possible role by Sessions in either sacking Comey, or in subverting the ongoing investigation by the FBI.

&quot;There remain a number of questions about his own interactions with the Russians,&quot; Republican Senator Susan Collins told CNN Friday.

&quot;We on the Intelligence Committee want to know the answers to those questions, and we have begun to request information from the attorney general to allow us to get to the bottom of that.&quot;

With the Russia story spreading, the Justice Department in May appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller, widely respected within both parties, as a special counsel to head a separate Russia probe.

(AFP)

Concerns have been raised about whether Sessions helped otherwise subvert the ongoing Russia-related investigations

Jeff Sessions, a longtime senator until President Donald Trump picked him as US attorney general, heads to Congress this coming week when he will face a grilling about his Russian interactions. Sessions, among the earliest high-profile backers of Trump's election campaign, appears before his former colleagues Tuesday, days after explosive testimony by ousted FBI director James Comey, whose removal he recommended. Concerns have been raised about whether Sessions helped otherwise subvert the ongoing Russia-related investigations. "This is going to prompt a lot of questions for him," the panel's top Democrat, Senator Patrick Leahy, told AFP of an appearance in which lawmakers will be eager to learn what role Sessions played in Comey's firing last month. The Senate Appropriations Committee had called in the attorney general to testify about budget issues. But on Saturday, after senators made clear they would zero in on Sessions's connections to Russia, Sessions shifted his plan, opting to address the Senate Intelligence Committee. "In light of reports regarding Mr Comey's recent testimony before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, it is important that I have an opportunity to address these matters," Sessions said in a letter announcing the change. The intelligence panel "is the most appropriate forum for such matters, as it has been conducting an investigation and has access to relevant, classified information," he added. With reports circulating that Trump had been clashing with his attorney general, and that Sessions had offered to resign, the White House on Tuesday declined to say whether the president maintained confidence in Sessions. And in a stunning moment of inside-the-Beltway intrigue, Comey dropped a bombshell about why he and other top FBI officials concluded that the attorney general was going to recuse himself from the probe. "We also were aware of facts that I can't discuss in an open setting that would make his continued engagement in a Russia-related investigation problematic," Comey said. 'Something big' Although Sessions, a 70-year-old from the southern state of Alabama who served 20 years in the Senate, backed Trump's campaign, he was also one of the first administration officials to fly into turbulence. During his January confirmation hearing he failed to disclose meetings he held with Russian officials. On March 1, The Washington Post reported that he met twice with the Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, during the campaign. The following day, Sessions recused himself from the Russia probe, and several top Democrats, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, demanded he resign. Sessions refused. He may also be under a cloud of suspicion after Comey, in his devastating testimony, suggested the attorney general may have failed to take appropriate steps to protect the FBI chief. At the conclusion of a February 14 meeting in the White House, Comey testified, Trump urged everyone else but Comey to leave the Oval Office, including Sessions. "My impression was, something big is about to happen," Comey said, as he recalled the encounter. "My sense was the attorney general knew he shouldn't be leaving," Comey added. When the two men were alone, the ex-FBI director said, Trump urged Comey to stop the investigation into fired national security advisor Michael Flynn. In written testimony Comey said he told Sessions it was "inappropriate" for him to leave the FBI director alone with the president, and that Sessions "did not reply". With Sessions already under fire for failing to disclose the two meetings with Russians, CNN reported last week that investigators were looking into a possible third Sessions meeting with Kislyak, on the sidelines of an April 27, 2016 campaign event in Washington. Despite his recusal, Sessions in May signed a letter to Trump recommending he remove Comey, the man overseeing the investigation into Russian election meddling and the possible Russia-Trump nexus. Lawmakers and critics have expressed concern about any possible role by Sessions in either sacking Comey, or in subverting the ongoing investigation by the FBI. "There remain a number of questions about his own interactions with the Russians," Republican Senator Susan Collins told CNN Friday. "We on the Intelligence Committee want to know the answers to those questions, and we have begun to request information from the attorney general to allow us to get to the bottom of that." With the Russia story spreading, the Justice Department in May appointed former FBI director Robert Mueller, widely respected within both parties, as a special counsel to head a separate Russia probe. (AFP)

US attorney general next in scandal's spotlight

James Comey said on Thursday he was disturbed by President Donald Trump&#39;s bid to get him to drop a probe into the former national security advisor, but the former FBI director would not say whether he thought the president sought to obstruct justice.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="videos-block">
<div class="embed-responsive embed-responsive-16by9"><iframe class="embed-responsive-item" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wtLtg2VIeAM"></iframe></div>
</div>

<div class="media-description">
Former FBI Director James Comey faces US Senate Panel (WION)
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

Comey told US&nbsp;lawmakers in one of the most widely anticipated US&nbsp;congressional hearing in years that the Trump administration had told lies and defamed him and the FBI when the president fired him on May 9.

In written testimony released on Wednesday, Comey said Trump had asked him in February to drop an FBI investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn as part of the probe into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US&nbsp;presidential election.

&quot;I don&#39;t think it&#39;s for me to say whether the conversation I had with the president was an effort to obstruct. I took it as a very disturbing thing, very concerning,&quot; Comey told lawmakers.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Comey says Trump asked him for loyalty, which he took to mean Trump wanted something in exchange for staying in job<a href="https://t.co/wTqYk0mA2P">pic.twitter.com/wTqYk0mA2P</a>
&mdash; MissAnthrope (@LyssAnthrope) <a href="https://twitter.com/LyssAnthrope/status/872832606588596226">June 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

The hearing could have significant repercussions for Trump&#39;s presidency as special counsel Robert Mueller and several congressional committees investigate alleged Russian efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election and whether Trump&#39;s campaign colluded with this.

Russia has denied such interference and the White House has denied any collusion.

Trump triggered a political firestorm when he dismissed Comey.

The former FBI head said Trump&#39;s administration had defamed him in comments made after his firing.

&quot;Although the law required no reason at all to fire the FBI director, the administration then chose to defame me and more importantly the FBI by saying that the organisation was in disarray, that the workforce had lost confidence in its leader,&quot; Comey said.

&quot;Those were lies, plain and simple,&quot; he said.

The Russia issue has dogged Trump&#39;s first months in office, with critics saying that any efforts by him to hinder the FBI probe could amount to obstruction of justice.

Some legal experts said Comey&#39;s testimony could strengthen any impeachment case in Congress to remove Trump from office built on an allegation of obstruction of justice.

Comey testified that he kept notes after meeting with Trump because &quot;I was honestly concerned that he might lie about the nature of our meeting, and so I thought it really important to document.&quot;

The White House has given shifting explanations on why Trump fired Comey. Trump has called Comey a &quot;showboat&quot; and a &quot;grandstander&quot; and said he was thinking of &quot;this Russia thing&quot; in dismissing him.

(Reuters)

The Russia issue has dogged Trump's first months, with critics saying that efforts by him to hinder the FBI probe could amount to obstruction of justice

James Comey said on Thursday he was disturbed by President Donald Trump's bid to get him to drop a probe into the former national security advisor, but the former FBI director would not say whether he thought the president sought to obstruct justice. Former FBI Director James Comey faces US Senate Panel (WION) × Comey told US lawmakers in one of the most widely anticipated US congressional hearing in years that the Trump administration had told lies and defamed him and the FBI when the president fired him on May 9. In written testimony released on Wednesday, Comey said Trump had asked him in February to drop an FBI investigation of former national security adviser Michael Flynn as part of the probe into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election. "I don't think it's for me to say whether the conversation I had with the president was an effort to obstruct. I took it as a very disturbing thing, very concerning," Comey told lawmakers. Comey says Trump asked him for loyalty, which he took to mean Trump wanted something in exchange for staying in jobpic.twitter.com/wTqYk0mA2P — MissAnthrope (@LyssAnthrope) June 8, 2017 × The hearing could have significant repercussions for Trump's presidency as special counsel Robert Mueller and several congressional committees investigate alleged Russian efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election and whether Trump's campaign colluded with this. Russia has denied such interference and the White House has denied any collusion. Trump triggered a political firestorm when he dismissed Comey. The former FBI head said Trump's administration had defamed him in comments made after his firing. "Although the law required no reason at all to fire the FBI director, the administration then chose to defame me and more importantly the FBI by saying that the organisation was in disarray, that the workforce had lost confidence in its leader," Comey said. "Those were lies, plain and simple," he said. The Russia issue has dogged Trump's first months in office, with critics saying that any efforts by him to hinder the FBI probe could amount to obstruction of justice. Some legal experts said Comey's testimony could strengthen any impeachment case in Congress to remove Trump from office built on an allegation of obstruction of justice. Comey testified that he kept notes after meeting with Trump because "I was honestly concerned that he might lie about the nature of our meeting, and so I thought it really important to document." The White House has given shifting explanations on why Trump fired Comey. Trump has called Comey a "showboat" and a "grandstander" and said he was thinking of "this Russia thing" in dismissing him. (Reuters)

FBI ex-head Comey accuses Trump administration of defaming him, telling 'lies'