Manafort sentenced to additional prison time as new charges filed in New York News
© WikiMedia (Alexandria Sheriff’s Office)
Manafort sentenced to additional prison time as new charges filed in New York

US President Donald Trump’s former aide, Paul Manafort, was ordered Wednesday to serve an additional 3 1/2 years on federal conspiracy charges by District court Judge Amy Berman Jackson. His total sentence between the two federal cases is now 7 1/2 years in prison.

Unlike last week, Manafort did read a statement of apology and told the judge she would “not regret” showing compassion in her sentencing.

Manafort pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the US and conspiracy to obstruct justice (witness tampering). His admitted crimes include wiring millions of dollars from offshore accounts to avoid taxes, concealing lobbying and public relations work with Ukraine and obstructing justice by providing false and misleading information to the Department of Justice.

Trump told reporters that he feels “very badly” for Manafort, but that he has not considered pardoning him.

Within an hour of being sentenced, Manafort was indicted on additional charges in the state of New York for residential fraud, conspiracy, falsifying business records and scheme to defraud. Unlike federal charges, Trump would not be able to pardon New York state charges.

THIS DAY @ LAW

UK parliament passed Statute of Westminster

On December 3, 1931, the UK Parliament passed the Statute of Westminster, under which the British dominions of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Irish Free State and Newfoundland gained complete legislative independence. The statute received royal assent and came into force on December 11.

President Theodore Roosevelt calls for dissolution of trusts

On December 3, 1901, President Theodore Roosevelt called for the dissolution of business trusts in his first State of the Union address. Roosevelt would go on to dissolve 44 trusts during his administration, earning the nickname "Trust Buster".