Castro Statement on Manafort Plea Deal, Cooperation with Mueller’s Team

WASHINGTON—Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and First Vice Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, today made the following statement:

“Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort’s guilty plea today and subsequent cooperation with the Department of Justice validates Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential elections. This plea deal highlights the credibility and progress of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s work and that it is not the ‘witch hunt’ that the President and his team falsely assert. Given Manafort’s convictions, and Michael Cohen’s campaign finance violations last month, it’s clear the President surrounded himself with nefarious characters during his 2016 presidential campaign. The American people have a right to understand the extent of any collusion between Americans, including those involved in the Trump campaign, with Russia ahead of the 2016 presidential elections. Today’s deal brings our nation one step closer to justice, and Congress must do everything in our power to protect Mueller from any potential firing.”

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