A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, can be released from house arrest after meeting certain conditions, including sizable fines if he fails to show up for court appearances.
Judge Amy Berman Jackson ruled Friday that Manafort would be subject to electronic monitoring, a curfew, weekly check-ins with authorities and a limited scope of travel.
The order said Manafort must pay $10 million if he fails to show up for a scheduled court appearance. The order also specified that he may travel back and forth between his residences in Alexandria, Virginia, and Palm Beach, Florida, but any other travel must be approved in advance by the court. He must also stay inside between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m.
Legal documents say Manafort has agreed to put up four residential properties believed to be worth a total of $10 million as collateral to secure his release. The properties include the houses in Alexandria and Palm Beach as well as homes in Manhattan and Bridgehampton, New York.
Manafort’s wife and daughter must also sign agreements to pay up to $10 million if Manafort fails to appear for court appearances and his four properties fail to equal $10 million in value. They must provide bank documentation showing they have the funds ready to make the payment if necessary.
Manafort, who has surrendered his passport already, will be required to remain in Palm Beach County and neighboring Broward County, Florida, when not traveling to Washington, D.C., for court appearances. With travel for court excepted, he will be required to stay away from transportation facilities, including public and private airports, train stations and bus stations.
Manafort’s wife is also required to surrender her passport, which will confine her to the United States.
Friday’s legal order said once all these conditions were met, the court would issue a separate order releasing Manafort from his house arrest in Alexandria.
Manafort served as campaign adviser to and later campaign chairman for Trump until his resignation three months before Election Day 2016, when his ties to pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine were exposed.
He faces charges that include money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent.
Former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn pleaded guilty earlier this month of lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia.
Trump has said repeatedly that there was “no collusion” with Russia during his campaign.
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