Here's Paul Manafort's $15,000 ostrich jacket

0

In opening statements of Paul Manafort’s ongoing trial over bank and tax fraud charges, a federal prosecutor mentioned a $15,000 jacket “made out of an ostrich” to highlight the former Trump campaign chairman’s extravagant lifestyle.

The question will be if the tactic works for the jury trial.

Here’s a look at the jacket, according to the government evidence:

The ostrich jacket. (Department of Justice via AP).
The ostrich jacket. (Department of Justice via AP).

Prosecutors also referenced an $18,500 python jacket worth and a $9,500 ostrich vest. These items are in addition to the $21,000 Bijan black titanium wristwatch, multiple $10,000 custom-made suits, and oriental rugs valued at a total of $934,000 that will be part of the high-stakes trial.

“The evidence will show that Paul Manafort placed himself and his money above the law,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Uzo Asonye, a prosecutor working on the case with special counsel Robert Mueller, said during opening statements on Tuesday in Alexandria, Va. Manafort has pleaded not guilty.

The jackets prosecutors say Paul Manafort purchased from luxury clothing stores. (Courtesy of Special Counsel’s Office/Reuters).
The jackets prosecutors say Paul Manafort purchased from luxury clothing stores. (Courtesy of Special Counsel’s Office/Reuters).

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III repeatedly criticized prosecutors for discussing the defendant’s wardrobe, saying that they were prejudicial and drew away attention from how Manafort’s fraud case.

This courtroom sketch depicts Paul Manafort, seated right row second from right, together with his lawyers, the jury, seated left, and the U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis III, back center, listening to Assistant U.S. Attorney Uzo Asonye, standing, during opening arguments in the trial of President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman Manafort’s on tax evasion and bank fraud charges. (Dana Verkouteren via AP).

Follow Aarthi and Michael on Twitter.

Advertisement