Manafort trial - LIVE: Uzo Asonye tells jury former Trump official 'paid for $15,000 ostrich jacket' and other lavish items using expenses
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The trial of former Donald Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort begins on Tuesday with the lobbyist accused of tax evasion and bank fraud.
Charges against Mr Trump’s former aide have been brought as a result of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
However, while that investigation focuses on potential meddling by Moscow in the US democratic system, Mr Manafort’s trial will focus more on his dealings in Ukraine, with brief mentions of the election race.
It may however produce politically damaging headlines for the Mr Trump, as the dealings of a man who ran his presidential campaign for three months are picked over in public.
Mr Manafort has denied the charges, but has been warned he could spend the rest of his life behind bars if found guilty.
Prosecutors have lined up 35 witnesses and more than 500 pieces of evidence they believe will show the lobbyist earned more than $60m (£47m) from his Ukrainian dealings, while concealing a “significant percentage” from the IRS.
He may yet face a further trial in Washington this September on charges relating to possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign.
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During the current trial, jurors are expected to see photographs of Mr Manafort’s Mercedes-Benz and of his Hampton property putting green and swimming pool.
There is likely to be testimony, too, about tailored Beverly Hills clothing, high-end antiques, rugs and art and New York Yankees seasons tickets.
The luxurious lifestyle was funded by Mr Manafort's political consulting for the pro-Russian Ukrainian political party of Viktor Yanukovych, who was deposed as Ukraine's president in 2014.
Lawyers have tangled over how much jurors will hear of his overseas political work, particularly about his ties to Russia and other wealthy political figures.
Mr Trump and his lawyers have repeatedly sought to play down Mr Manafort's connection to the president, yet the trial won't be entirely without references to the campaign.
Mr Mueller's team says Mr Manafort's position in the Trump campaign is relevant to some of the bank fraud charges.
Prosecutors plan to present evidence that a chairman of one of the banks allowed Manafort to file inaccurate loan information in exchange for a job on the campaign and the promise of a job in the Trump administration that never materialised.
Opening statements from both sides are set to begin just before 3 pm EST (7 pm GMT).
Opening statements have begun and the prosecutors - the side of special prosecutor Robert Mueller who leads the FBI's Russia probe - are up first.
The prosecutor said in court Donald Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort "put himself and his money above the law".
The jury heard in court from Uzo Asonye, on the prosecutor team, that Mr Manafort opened more than 30 overseas accounts in three countries to "receive and hide" his income from Ukraine.
Prosecutors say Mr Manafort orchestrated a multimillion-dollar conspiracy to evade US tax and banking laws, leaving behind a trail of lies as he lived a lavish lifestyle.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Uzo Asonye told the jury that Mr Manafort paid for personal expenses allegedly using money funneled into the accounts, such as a $21,000 watch and a $15,000 jacket made of ostrich.
Mr Asonye alleged that Mr Manafort was a "shrewd" liar.
"All of these charges boil down to one simple issue -- that Paul Manafort lied," the prosecutor said.
Mr Manafort has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.
As might have been expected, Mr Manafort's lawyers have sought to rebuke those claims.
Defense attorney Thomas Zehnle said Mrl Manfort’s unusual financial arrangements came at the behest of the people in Ukraine who were funding Mr Manafort’s work. Mr Zehnle said Mr Manafort never intentionally deceived tax authorities about his income, but instead did not realize he needed to file certain forms and make certain declarations.
“This is not a case where someone flew to Switzerland and stashed money in an account,” Mr Zehnle said.
Paul Manafort's associate, Richard - or Rick - Gates made a plea deal with authorities having faced similar charges to Mr Manafort, but Mr Manafort's lawyers are looking to undermine that in their opening remarks.
Mr Manafort misplaced his trust in Gates, his lawyer Mr Zehnle said, and Mr Manafort’s partner essentially cheated Manafort, who was busy running political campaigns and doing consulting work in Ukraine. Mr Zehnle tellls the court that Mr Gates had been the one to keep track of money.
“Rick Gates had his hand in the cookie jar and he couldn’t take the risk that his boss might find out,” Mr Zehnle alleged.
Mr Gates legal team could not be reached for comment.
Mr Gates pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and lying to federal investigators in February. Mr Gates was charged with several crimes in the Virginia case, but after his plea, those charges were dropped.
The first witness of Mr Manafort's trial has now taken the stand.
It is Tad Devine, the Democratic political consultant who worked with Mr Manafort in Ukraine.
He described the organisation of Mr Manafort's foreign political consulting operation. Prosecutors are questioning him, and the defense attorneys will have a chance to cross-examine him.
Mr Manafort's defense attorney Thomas Zehnle described the roles of several witnesses who will testify during the trial. The witnesses appear to feed into the strategy of blaming Mr Ri
Amanda Metzler, an in-house bookkeeper for Paul Manafort's company until 2011, will describe how she tracked money by working with his longtime deputy Rick Gates and that the offshore accounts used weren't hidden from her.
Mr Zehnle also described how two accountants, Philip Ayliff and Cindy LaPorta, of the firm, Kositzka, Wicks and Company, will allege they received false information from Gates about Manafort's accounts. Mr Ayliff and Ms LaPorta are among the five witnesses to receive immunity in exchange for their testimony.
Prosecutor Uzo Asonye made note of witnesses in general terms, telling the jury they would hear from “a bookeeper,” associates of Mr Manafort and others.
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