Advertisement

Manafort trial - live blog: Jury deliberates for third day without verdict as Trump hits out at Mueller probe

The jury in the financial fraud trial of Donald Trump‘s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, are nearing the end of their third day of deliberations.

They have been pondering whether to convict Mr Manafort of up to 18 criminal charges related to bank and tax fraud and his failure to disclose overseas bank accounts. Mr Manafort denies all the charges against him.

On Friday, the 12 jurors concluded their discussions without sending any notes to the judge other than saying when they would go home.

It came a day after they asked for a definition of “reasonable doubt” and clarification on the law governing the reporting of foreign bank accounts.

The trial is the first courtroom test of the Russia probe led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, though the case doesn’t involve allegations of Russian election interference.

Meanwhile, outside the courtroom and unrelated, The New York Times reports that federal authorities investigating whether President Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, potentially committed bank and tax fraud and have zeroed in on well over $20 million in loans obtained by taxi businesses that he and his family own. Prosecutors are said to be considering charges, possibly by the end of August.

The Cohen investigation was referred to the Southern District of New York by Mr Mueller. Mr Cohen's lawyers have not yet responded to a request for comment, but have declined to speak when asked by other media outlets.

Additional reporting by agencies