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Paul Manafort expected to plead guilty in Mueller probe

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Paul Manafort, formerly President Donald Trump’s campaign chairman, is expected to plead guilty to a federal conspiracy charge that accused him of money laundering, tax fraud, and lying to investigators, according to a document filed in federal court.

A charging document was filed Friday in the District of Columbia, which accuses Manafort, 69, of participating in a conspiracy against the United States — money laundering, tax fraud, failing to file Foreign Bank Account Reports, violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and lying and misrepresenting to the Department of Justice. He is also charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice, involving witness tampering.

A superseding criminal information against Manafort, 69, was filed Friday in the District of Columbia, which alleges a conspiracy against the United States (money laundering, tax fraud, failing to file Foreign Bank Account Reports, violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and lying and misrepresenting to the Department of Justice) and a conspiracy to obstruct justice (witness tampering).

News that Manafort and special counsel Robert Mueller’s office were nearing a deal was first reported by ABC News, and later confirmed by The New York Times, Reuters and Fox News.

Jury selection for the trial, in a Washington, D.C., federal court, had been scheduled to start Monday.

Manafort is due to appear at a preliminary hearing for the trial Friday at 11:00 a.m.