Possibly because his nefarious activities on behalf of his pro-Russian Ukrainian clients was already well established, during his other trial in D.C.
That sentencing hearing is scheduled for next week.
In January 2019, Manafort's lawyers submitted a filing to the court in response to the accusation that he had lied to investigators. Through an error in redacting, the document accidentally revealed that while he was campaign chairman, Manafort met with Konstantin Kilimnik, who is believed to be linked to Russian intelligence. The filing says Manafort gave him polling data related to the 2016 campaign and discussed a Ukranian peace plan with him.
That July 2016 meeting Manafort and Sessions had with Ambassador Kislyak, just prior to Trump's campaign backflip on support for Ukraine against pro-Russian rebel forces?
