Mueller offers immunity and secrecy to five witnesses in Manafort trial

Chuck Ross, DCNF

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Robert Mueller speaks during a farewell ceremony in Mueller's honor at the Department of Justice on August 1, 2013. Mueller is retiring from the FBI after 12-years as Director. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images) — (SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

Special Counsel Robert Mueller plans to grant immunity to five witnesses who could testify at the upcoming trial for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Mueller and his team of prosecutors revealed the use of the “limited immunity” offers in papers filed in federal court on Tuesday. Mueller is asking a federal judge to file the immunity records under seal in order to prevent the identities of the five witnesses from being made public.

The court filing says that the five witnesses, who have not been publicly identified, have so far invoked their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination.

“The motions indicate that the named individuals will not testify or provide other information on the basis of their privilege against self-incrimination, and that the government is requesting that the Court compel them to testify at the upcoming trial,” reads the filing.

Manafort has been indicted in both Virginia and Washington, D.C., on a slew of charges related to his consulting work for a Ukrainian political party affiliated with former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych. Manafort’s work ended in 2014, two years before he joined the Trump campaign.

His trial in Virginia begins on July 25. The trial in Washington is scheduled to start in September.

There has been no indication from Mueller that the investigation of Manafort has uncovered any information on collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian government.

Rick Gates, a former Manafort business associate and Trump campaign aide, struck a plea deal with Mueller’s team in February.

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