![FBI special agent files declaration support finding of Manafort’s false statements](https://www.jurist.org/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2018/08/manafort-cropped.png)
Special Agent Jeffrey Weiland on Tuesday filed a 31-page declaration in DC District Court to support finding that Paul J. Manafort, Jr.‘s testimonial statements in the DC grand jury last year were false.
The 31-page document is a redacted version due to the law regarding grand jury secrecy. The information in the document, which is supported by 157 pages of exhibits, reveals that Manafort made inconsistent statements to the government over the course of several interviews and in the grand jury.
Such false and misleading statements include statements about Konstatin Kilimnik’s role in the witness tampering conspiracy, statements about Kilimnik’s role in the obstruction justice conspiracy, statements about the fact and frequency of his meeting and discussion with Kilimnik during last year. According to the document, Manafort’s communication with Kilimnik began on August 2, 2016.
Despite being heavily redacted, document discloses an incomplete list of the communications between Manafort and the Trump administration. It provides details on a text between an unnamed person and Manafort asking if he could mention their relationship in conversation with the President. Manafort responded “yes” and even if not just “one on one” with the President. In addition, Rick Gates testified that Manafort tole him that he was using intermediaries to get people appointed in the administration.