Paul Manafort appealed two court orders to the D.C. Circuit—one of which landed him in jail. He then filed another request for immediate release from jail pending those appeals. Thursday (July 12), the D.C. Circuit said no.
In a one-sentence order, Judges Rogers, Tatel, and Wilkins declined to use their ability to release the former Trump campaign chairman. Federal Appellate Rule of Procedure 9(a)(3) says that a “court of appeals or one of its judges may order” Manafort’s release pending the outcome of his appeal. In its order, the court noted that Manafort’s appeal is already on an expedited schedule—the appeal is supposed to be fully briefed by July 23—and said Manafort had “not shown that immediate relief before resolution of his expedited appeal” was warranted.
Thursday’s order has no bearing on Manafort’s two appeals. As Circuit Breaker reported, Manafort is asking the D.C. Circuit first to overturn the district judge’s order revoking his bail and second to overturn her decision dismissing his civil suit challenging Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s authority.
Manafort is also slated for two upcoming trials—one in Virginia set to begin July 25 and one in D.C. scheduled for later this fall.
The D.C. Circuit’s order Thursday likely put the final nail in the coffin of Manafort’s hopes to be released before the first trial begins.
Manafort’s lawyers did not respond to a request for comment on this story.
