President Trump[1] defended his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort[2] on Wednesday, while distancing Mr. Manafort[3] from special counsel Robert Mueller[4]’s Russia investigation.
The president praised Mr. Manafort[5] by highlighting his past employment, but emphasized he only worked with the Trump campaign “for a very short time.”
Mr. Trump[6] also accused the Justice Department of withholding information on Mr. Manafort[7]’s investigation.
“Why didn’t [the] government tell me that he was under investigation,” he tweeted.
Mr. Trump[8] emphasized that the charges against Mr. Manafort[9] have nothing to do with possible collusion between Russians and Trump[10] campaign officials, and he called the investigation “a hoax.”
Paul Manafort[11] worked for Ronald Reagan, Bob Dole and many other highly prominent and respected political leaders. He worked for me for a very short time. Why didn’t government tell me that he was under investigation. These old charges have nothing to do with Collusion - a Hoax!...