Manafort's sentence extended to another 43 months, to serve 7.5 yrs jail term

A federal judge on Wednesday added another 43 months to the jail term of US President Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign chairman Paul Manafort, which means the 69-year-old will now serve an overall seven-and-half-year of prison term.

A visibly distraught and quiet Manafort appeared before District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson for the second sentencing. Describing himself as a changed man, Manafort regretted the crimes he committed and the pain caused to his family during the hearing.

"I am sorry for what I have done and for all of the activities that have gotten us here today. I know that it was my conduct that brought me here today. For that, I am remorseful," he was quoted by The Hill as saying.

Manafort will be given credit for the nine months he has already spent in jail, which means he will spend less than seven years in prison.

On March 8, Manafort was awarded 47 months in prison and was convicted on charges of stemming from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged interference by Russia in the 2016 presidential election and potential collaboration between Trump campaign and Moscow.

Last year, Manafort was convicted on charges of tax fraud, bank fraud and failure to report foreign bank accounts. He also failed to pay taxes on millions of dollars in income he earned from Ukrainian political consulting.

Manafort agreed to cooperate with the ongoing investigation into Russian meddling probe in the 2016 polls. He had pleaded guilty to criminal charges that he cheated Internal Revenue Service, violated foreign lobbying laws and tried justice.

According to reports, Manafort's cooperation in the investigation shaved off a potential 10-year prison sentence.