By Evie Fordham
Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort’s accountant admitted she filed tax returns that she was aware may have been criminally fraudulent, at Manafort’s tax fraud trial in Alexandria, Virginia, Friday.
“I prepared the tax returns and communicated with banks based on information that Mr. [Rick] Gates and Mr. Manafort provided to me that I didn’t believe,” Cindy Laporta said, reported Politico.
Laporta is “the first witness at the trial to testify under a grant of immunity,” according to Politico. Her testimony is also the first instance of a witness conceding involvement in possible wrongdoing in the trial.
Lobbyist Manafort is defending himself from charges of tax illegalities brought by special counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller wants to grant immunity to four people besides LaPorta who could testify, reported Politico.
Laporta classified $2.4 million from offshore businesses as loans on 2014 and 2015 tax documents to Manafort’s consultant business. She works for Kositzka Wicks & Company in Alexandria.
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