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Paul John Manafort Jr., born April 1, 1949, in New Britain, Connecticut, is an American political consultant, lobbyist, and attorney best known for his work as a political strategist for several Republican candidates and his controversial involvement in international lobbying. Manafort gained widespread attention as Donald Trump’s campaign chairman during the 2016 presidential election, but his career took a dramatic turn when he became embroiled in a series of legal battles related to his lobbying work, leading to his conviction on charges of fraud and tax evasion.
Early Life and Education
Paul Manafort was born into a politically active family. His father, Paul John Manafort Sr., was a prominent figure in local politics, serving as the mayor of New Britain from 1965 to 1971. Growing up in such an environment, Manafort was exposed to the world of politics at an early age, which likely influenced his future career.
Manafort attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School before enrolling at Georgetown University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1971. He continued his education at Georgetown University Law Center, where he received a Juris Doctor (JD) in 1974. His strong academic background set the stage for a successful career in law and politics.
Early Political and Lobbying Career
Manafort’s entry into politics began in the late 1970s when he worked as an adviser to Gerald Ford’s 1976 presidential campaign. He quickly built a reputation as a skilled political operative and lobbyist. In the early 1980s, Manafort served as an adviser to Ronald Reagan during his 1980 and 1984 campaigns. He also worked on the presidential campaigns of George H.W. Bush in 1988 and Bob Dole in 1996.
In 1980, Manafort co-founded the lobbying firm Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly, which would later become one of the most powerful lobbying firms in Washington, D.C. The firm represented a wide range of clients, including U.S. corporations, foreign governments, and political leaders. The firm’s international work, particularly its dealings with authoritarian regimes, would later become a point of contention in Manafort’s career.
International Lobbying and Controversy
One of the more controversial aspects of Manafort’s career was his involvement in lobbying for foreign leaders, including several with authoritarian leanings. He worked with Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines, Mobutu Sese Seko of Zaire, and Jonas Savimbi of Angola, helping these leaders secure favorable relations with the U.S. government despite their controversial regimes.
However, it was Manafort’s work in Ukraine that would eventually lead to his downfall. In the mid-2000s, he became a key adviser to Viktor Yanukovych, the pro-Russian former president of Ukraine. Manafort helped Yanukovych rebuild his political image after his defeat in the 2004 Ukrainian presidential election. His efforts culminated in Yanukovych’s victory in 2010, and Manafort’s firm received millions of dollars for its work.
Manafort’s lobbying for Yanukovych and his party raised eyebrows due to its ties to Russia and its influence on Ukraine’s political landscape. He also failed to register as a foreign agent under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), a legal requirement for those lobbying on behalf of foreign governments. This oversight would come back to haunt him during later investigations.
Trump Campaign Chairmanship
Paul Manafort returned to the political spotlight in 2016 when he was appointed as Donald Trump’s campaign chairman during Trump’s bid for the U.S. presidency. His role was initially to help manage the delegate process during the Republican National Convention. However, his influence quickly expanded, and he became a key figure in the campaign.
Manafort’s tenure as campaign chairman was short-lived, as he resigned in August 2016 amid reports about his undisclosed lobbying work for foreign governments, particularly in Ukraine. His ties to pro-Russian figures and allegations of financial misconduct were seen as liabilities for the campaign. Despite his resignation, Manafort remained a significant figure in the Trump-Russia investigation that followed the 2016 election.
Legal Troubles and Convictions
In 2017, Manafort’s world came crashing down when he was indicted as part of the Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The charges against him were not directly related to his work on the Trump campaign but stemmed from his financial dealings and lobbying work in Ukraine.
Manafort was charged with a variety of offenses, including bank fraud, tax evasion, money laundering, and failing to register as a foreign agent. Investigators uncovered that he had used offshore bank accounts to hide millions of dollars earned through his Ukrainian lobbying work. He also defrauded banks by falsifying financial information to secure loans.
In 2018, Manafort was convicted on eight counts of financial crimes, including tax fraud and bank fraud, and later pleaded guilty to two other charges in a separate case. As part of his plea deal, he agreed to cooperate with Mueller’s investigation. However, prosecutors later accused Manafort of lying to investigators, voiding the plea deal.
In March 2019, Manafort was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison for his crimes. His conviction marked a significant moment in the Mueller investigation, highlighting the extent of corruption in the world of political lobbying.
Presidential Pardon and Release
In December 2020, in the final days of his presidency, Donald Trump pardoned Paul Manafort, along with several other individuals convicted as part of the Mueller investigation. The pardon effectively wiped out Manafort’s remaining sentence, although his legal troubles left a lasting impact on his career and reputation.
Personal Life
Paul Manafort is married to Kathleen Bond, and the couple has two daughters. Throughout his legal battles, his family remained relatively private, though his daughter’s text messages, which were leaked, suggested tension within the family related to his work.
Legacy
Paul Manafort’s life story is one of ambition, power, and eventual downfall. A key figure in American political lobbying, he was involved in shaping U.S. elections and foreign policy for decades. However, his legal troubles, convictions, and controversial lobbying work have overshadowed much of his earlier career achievements.
Manafort’s case highlighted the murky world of political lobbying and foreign influence in U.S. politics, sparking debates about transparency and accountability. Despite his pardon, his reputation remains deeply tarnished, and his legacy is one of both political success and scandal.
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