Friday, 26 Apr 2024

Robert Mueller asks judge to delay Rick Gates’ sentencing

One-time Trump campaign aide Rick Gates is not ready to be sentenced because he’s still helping federal prosecutors with “several ongoing investigations,” according to a new court filing in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe.

“Gates continues to cooperate with respect to several ongoing investigations, and accordingly the parties do not believe it is appropriate to commence the sentencing process at this time,” said the joint filing by Mueller and Gates’ attorney.

The report asks a federal judge for 60 more days before providing the next update on the status of President Trump’s former campaign chairman.

It comes amid increasing speculation that Mueller is close to wrapping up the investigation into Russian election meddling and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

Trump has denied collusion or any other wrongdoing.

Gates and longtime business partner Paul Manafort — the chair of then-candidate Trump’s campaign between June and August 2016 — were indicted in October 2017 by Mueller.

In a plea deal last year, Gates pleaded guilty to conspiracy and to making false statements to the FBI and the special counsel’s office.

He then turned state’s witness against Manafort, testifying that, among other things, they teamed up to conceal millions of dollars in offshore bank accounts so Manafort could cheat his taxes.

Manafort, who pleaded guilty last year to conspiring to defraud the US in a cooperation deal with the special counsel, was sentenced this week to six years and one month on the slammer – a week after he received a 47-month in a separate case.

Meanwhile, the special counsel’s office has confirmed that one of the most prominent members of its team will be leaving his post.

“Andrew Weissmann will be concluding his detail to the Special Counsel’s Office in the near future,” special counsel spokesman Peter Carr told NBC News on Thursday.

His departure will follow that of the most senior FBI agent working on the Mueller probe.

Special Agent in Charge David Archey took on a new job on March 4 as head of the FBI’s office in Richmond, Va.

With Post Wires

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