Paul Manafort, US President Donald Trump's indicted former campaign chairman, has asked for court permission for release from home confinement to attend the funeral of his father-in-law.
In a filing in federal court in Washington, Manafort said his father-in-law died on Saturday and that he would like to travel from his Virginia home to Long Island, New York, to attend the wake, funeral and burial services.
Manafort has been charged with conspiring to launder money, lying on his tax returns and failing to register as a foreign agent for lobbying work for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine, among other charges.
His request comes one day after Rick Gates, Manafort's longtime business partner, pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the US and lying to investigators. Gates is now co-operating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his probe of Russia's interference in the 2016 US presidential campaign.
Legal experts said the move by Gates would likely add to pressure on Manafort to strike his own plea deal with Mueller, although Manafort maintains his innocence and is preparing to go to trial.
Saturday's court filing said that Manafort had notified the special counsel's office of his request to leave his home to attend the services on Monday and Tuesday, but had not received a response.
Australian Associated Press
