James PackardSpecial counsel Robert Mueller's office says former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort tried to tamper with potential witnesses. It's asking a judge to reconsider his pretrial release.
In a court filing Monday, Mueller said Manafort and an associate contacted two potential witnesses and tried to get them to give false testimony.
Mueller says the people Manafort contacted used to work for a group that lobbied for Ukraine. Mueller says Manafort and his associate "repeatedly" contacted those people and tried to get them to give the impression the lobbying group worked only in Europe and not in the U.S.
Back in October, Manafort and the court agreed he wouldn't have to sit in jail while he waited for his trial as long as he followed a set of strict parameters. Mueller argues Manafort violated the law by trying to get potential witnesses to lie and thereby broke the terms of his agreement. If Mueller gets his way, Manafort could have the terms of his pretrial release tightened up or revoked entirely.
Mueller's office said Manafort's alleged behavior "instills little confidence that restrictions short of detention will assure Manafort's compliance with the Court's orders and prevent him from committing further crimes."
Additional reporting from Newsy affiliate CNN.
