The Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Paul Manafort, the first campaign chairman in President Trump’s 2016 bid, for around $3 million over his failure to report his financial interest in foreign accounts within the given time frame to do so.
"The United States of America brings this action to collect outstanding civil penalties assessed against Defendant Paul J. Manafort for his willful failure to timely report his financial interest in foreign bank accounts," the department wrote in filing the lawsuit Thursday in the U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach, Florida, per Just the News.
Manafort was convicted on tax evasion charges years ago, but was pardoned by President Trump in 2020.
An attorney for Manafort said his client "was aware the government was going to file the suit because he has tried for months to resolve this civil matter. Nonetheless, the government insisted on filing this suit simply to embarrass Mr. Manafort."
He said Manafort is being targeted for financial penalty "for simply failing to file a tax form."
