Manafort seeks early prison release, citing age, poor health amid coronavirus

Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort is asking to be released from a Pennsylvania prison, arguing pre-existing health conditions make him exceptionally vulnerable to the coronavirus.

Manafort in June 2018 began serving a 7.5-year sentence on charges of tax evasion, witness tampering, failing to report foreign bank accounts and unregistered lobbying for foreign interests.

The charges stem from the so-called Mueller investigation that looked into whether members of President Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign colluded with Russia to influence the outcome of the election.

The 71-year-old lobbyist and political consultant in December 2019 was taken to the hospital for a heart problem and in February reportedly had the flu and bronchitis.

Manafort’s lawyer is asking that his client be allowed to serve the remainder of his term in home confinement.