Mueller Rips Into Paul Manafort’s “VIP” Prison Privileges

Bloomberg reports:

Paul Manafort is being treated like a “VIP” in prison, with a private bathroom and shower, a personal laptop and phone, and access to a meeting space for his legal team, Special Counsel Robert Mueller told a judge.

President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, set to go on trial July 25 on bank fraud and tax charges, asked for a delay citing a lack of access to his lawyers. But visitor logs and recordings of phone calls show that isn’t the case, prosecutors said in a court filing Wednesday opposing Manafort’s request for a delay.

“Contrary to Manafort’s assertions about his jail conditions, Manafort is in a private unit in which he can review materials and prepare for trial,” Mueller’s legal team said. “Manafort remarked in a taped prison call that he is able to visit with his lawyers every day.”

NEW DETAILS: Mueller has recordings of Manafort’s phone calls from jail and is using Manafort’s words against him. Manafort told the judge he can’t prep for trial. But in taped calls, he said he has “gone through all the discovery” and can see “all my files like I would at home.” pic.twitter.com/cbCVzoCOon

— Marshall Cohen (@MarshallCohen) July 11, 2018

New filing from Mueller’s office: Manafort has revealed on monitored phone calls that, despite the jail not allowing prisoners to send or receive emails, he appears to have developed a workaround. https://t.co/rqqK0pfBDs

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) July 11, 2018

Mueller’s prosecutors spill ALL the details about Paul Manafort’s life in jail.
-Says he’s treated like a VIP
– Gets laptop + extension cord to work on his case
– Using a laptop from his lawyers and hundreds of calls to chat with people outside jail
– Doesn’t wear a jumpsuit pic.twitter.com/VqSFEvo4YY

— Katelyn Polantz (@kpolantz) July 11, 2018

NEW: Mueller’s office files motion opposing effort to delay Manafort trial saying “extra accommodations” have been made for him to use a personal laptop and cellphone: pic.twitter.com/7LqMKnJu3G

— TheBeat w/Ari Melber (@TheBeatWithAri) July 11, 2018