Former Trump aide Rick Gates has agreed to plead guilty to fraud-related charges and will testify against former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort according to The LA Times:
The change of heart by Trump's former deputy campaign manager, Richard W. Gates III, who had pleaded not guilty after being indicted in October on charges similar to Manafort's, was described in interviews by people familiar with the case.
"Rick Gates is going to change his plea to guilty,'' said a person with direct knowledge of the new developments, adding that the revised plea will be presented in federal court in Washington "within the next few days.''
Mueller is heading the prosecutions of Gates and Manafort as part of the wide-ranging investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and whether Trump or his aides committed crimes before, during or since the campaign.
The imminent change of Gates' plea follows negotiations over the last several weeks between Green and two of Mueller's prosecutors – senior assistant special counsels Andrew Weissmann and Greg D. Andres.
According to a person familiar with those talks, Gates, a longtime political consultant, can expect "a substantial reduction in his sentence'' if he fully cooperates with the investigation. He said that Gates is apt to serve about 18 months in prison.
With Gates turned state evidence Manafort will plead soon. He will give up Trump, Kushner & Trump jr for a deal. Mueller’s Money laundering end game could come as fast in 60-90 days. Does not mean impeachment but will open up Trump’s tax returns. https://t.co/ik7pDRyTE3— Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) February 18, 2018
BREAKING: Trump campaign staffer Rick Gates plans to plead guilty for fraud & is willing to testify against Paul Manafort in Mueller’s Russia probe. This is the fourth guilty plea in the probe, 18 total indictments & counting. I would guess by the end 85 people will be indicted.— Scott Dworkin (@funder) February 18, 2018
Manafort is underwater. But according to this leak, Gates has nothing on Trump. I suspect Manafort does, however. https://t.co/bsK2hUMleY— John Dean (@JohnWDean) February 18, 2018
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