Washington: Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has sued special counsel Robert Mueller, and the Department of Justice, challenging Mueller’s authority to charge him.
Manafort, who is indicted on money laundering and other charges, has alleged that the Justice Department violated the law in appointing Mueller.
The lawsuit filed in US District Court in Washington, challenges Mueller’s decision to charge Manafort with alleged crimes as a part of his probe into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election.
As per the suit, Manafort has nothing to do with the 2016 campaign, but rather relate to lucrative lobbying work which he and his deputy did for a former Russia-friendly government in Ukraine that ended in 2014.
The Manafort lawsuit alleges Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Mueller have unlawfully exceeded the authorities allowed under the law governing special counsel appointments, CNN reported.
Manafort lawyers said that Rosenstein order which says that Mueller may investigate “any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation,” goes beyond what the law allows Rosenstein to empower Mueller to do.
Manafort, who was indicted last year on the charges alongside his deputy Rick Gates, face a total of 12 criminal charges related to money laundering and failure to file federal disclosures.
Both Manafort and Gates have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to appear again before the judge in the criminal case on January 16. (ANI)