New York Judge Maxwell Wiley dismissed state charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort Wednesday on double-jeopardy grounds. Manafort was scheduled to appear in criminal court Wednesday on charges of mortgage fraud and other financial crimes filed in New York state court by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr.
The Manhattan district attorney’s office plans to appeal the decision. “We will appeal today’s decision and will continue working to ensure that Mr. Manafort is held accountable for the criminal conduct against the People of New York that is alleged in the indictment,” Manhattan district attorney spokesman Danny Frost said in a statement.
The ex-Trump campaign chairman is already serving a 7-year sentence after being convicted on federal charges of bank fraud, tax evasion, conspiring against the U.S. and conspiring to obstruct justice.
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Manafort, who has been hospitalized since last week, did not appear for the hearing. His lawyer, Todd Blanche, said Tuesday that Manafort’s own family did “not have a full understanding” of his medical condition because the Bureau of Prisons would not provide “any information” about Manafort’s condition, citing his safety and privacy.
A New York grand jury had charged Manafort with 16 counts including residential mortgage fraud, conspiracy, falsifying business records and a scheme to defraud. The indictment was filed in the New York State Supreme Court in March.
Had Manafort been tried and convicted in New York, he would not have been eligible to receive a presidential pardon for state crimes.
Pat Milton, Anisah Jabar and Clare Hymes contributed to this report.
