Paul Manafort declined to take the stand at his fraud trial Tuesday as his lawyers rested their case without calling any witnesses.
Asked by Judge T.S. Ellis whether he wanted to testify, Manafort replied, “No, sir.”
The judge also asked whether the former Trump campaign chairman was satisfied with his legal representation.
“I am, your honor,” Manafaort, 69, answered.
Manafort lawyer Kevin Downing later said, “We’ve rested because Mr. Manafort and his legal team do not think the government has met its proof.”
The no-defense move came a day after prosecutors rested their case following 10 days of testimony from nearly two dozens witnesses.
The defense moved to have all 18 counts against Manafort dismissed, saying the government hadn’t proved he willingly committed the crimes. But Ellis denied the motion.
“They are all jury issues,” the judge said.
Manafort is accused of hiding millions of dollars in offshore accounts in order to dodge taxes and fraudulently obtain loans. The money came from consulting work he did for pro-Russia politicians in Ukraine prior to his stint on Trump’s campaign.
The longtime political operative is the first prosecution by special counsel Robert Mueller to go to trial in connection with his ongoing investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
Manafort was charged in February along with his former right-hand man Rick Gates and faces similar charges in a separate case in Washington, DC. Gates pleaded guilty and testified against his one-time mentor.
Closing arguments are expected Wednesday, after which the jury of 12 will begin deliberations.
With Post wires



