President Donald Trump made his first public comments about the conviction of his former campaign chairman, tweeting Wednesday that he feels "very badly" for Paul Manafort and added that he has "such respect for a brave man."
Trump tweeted: "I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. 'Justice' took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to 'break' - make up stories in order to get a 'deal.' Such respect for a brave man!"
Manafort was found guilty in Virginia on Tuesday on eight of the 18 counts prosecutors brought against him for bank and tax fraud.
Right around the same time, news broke that Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to eight counts of tax evasion, making false statements and campaign finance violations.
Cohen faces four to five years in prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 12.
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