Special counsel Robert Mueller made an unusual request Thursday to keep a Trump campaign-related portion of Paul Manafort's trial confidential because it uncovered "substantive evidence" relating to the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The evidence was revealed during a private discussion between federal Virginia Judge T.S. Ellis and lawyers representing Manafort and his former associate Rick Gates, Mueller charged in a filing.
The discussion, a so-called "sidebar" conference, was called by Ellis after Manafort's attorney Kevin Downing asked Gates on cross-examination about his sit downs with Mueller's investigators.
"Were you interviewed on several occasions about your time on the Trump campaign?" Downing asked.
Prosecutors objected to the question and the sidebar ensued. Judge Ellis has instructed both sides to avoid talking about matters relating to President Donald Trump and his campaign, citing potential biases among jurors.
A spokesman for Manafort declined to comment. The special counsel's office referred to Mueller's filing, but otherwise declined to comment.
"Disclosing the identified transcript portions would reveal substantive evidence pertaining to an ongoing investigation," the filing states. "The government's interest in protecting the confidentiality of its ongoing investigations is compelling and justifies sealing the limited portion of the sidebar."
Mueller's confidentiality request could indicate Gates is still cooperating with investigators. It could also signal Gates is assisting investigators with their inquiry into possible collusion between Trump's campaign and the Kremlin, in addition to their prosecution of Manafort, who has been charged with a laundry list of crimes that do not relate directly to his time as the president's campaign chairman.
Manafort, 69, faces tax and bank fraud charges in Ellis' court. He faces a separate trial in Washington in September on charges including conspiracy against the U.S. and money laundering. Most of the counts relate to Manafort's shadowy lobbying work for pro-Kremlin political forces in Ukraine.
Gates, 46, has pleaded guilty to financial crimes and lying to investigators.
He testified during Manafort's trial that he committed crimes "at Mr. Manafort's direction," including tax evasion and bank fraud.
Manafort stared at his former associate as he testified. Gates did not once return his gaze.
