WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 22nd August, 2018) Criminal charges brought against former US President Donald Trump's attorney Michael Cohen and ex-campaign manager Paul Manafort highlight the need to enact legislation to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller, Senator Chris Coons said in a statement on Wednesday.
"I introduced bipartisan legislation last year to ensure the Special Counsel is able to complete his important work without interference. That legislation passed the Judiciary Committee with strong bipartisan support earlier this year, and it is past time for the full Senate to vote on it," Coons said.
On Tuesday, Cohen pleaded guilty to five counts of tax evasion, one count of making a false statement to a bank and two campaign finance violations.
Also on Tuesday, a jury found Manafort guilty of eight out of 18 counts against him in his bank and tax fraud trial. The judge declared a mistrial on the other 10 counts.
Mueller charged Manafort under his mandate from the Justice Department, which allowed him to prosecute any crimes found during his investigation of the 2016 election, Russian interference and alleged collusion between Moscow and the Trump Campaign, which is what happened in the case against Manafort.
Both Russia and Trump have repeatedly denied the allegations of collusion and Moscow has called accusations of interference in the election "absurd."
