Paul Manafort must forgo his flashy custom-made suits — and appear in a drab prison jumpsuit for all future court appearances, according to a federal judge who says the fashion-forward felon will be treated like every other convict.
A request by the sartorially savvy former political consultant to wear a suit to court for his court appearance on Friday and subsequent dates was slapped down by Virginia federal judge TS Ellis, court filings show.
“Defendants who are in custody post-conviction are, as a matter of course, not entitled to appear for sentencing or any other hearing in street clothing,” the judge wrote in a testy one-page order. “This defendant should be treated no differently from other defendants who are in custody post-conviction.”
In a filing Tuesday, Manafort’s lawyers asked Ellis for an order “that he be dressed in a suit for the hearing” on Friday and “all subsequent court appearances.”
Manafort’s penchant for lavish duds, including a $15,000 custom ostrich bomber jacket, had a star role in his bank and tax fraud trial.
He was found guilty of eight of 18 counts for hiding millions of dollars in offshore accounts in order to dodge taxes.
The longtime GOP operative, and one-time Trump campaign chairman, faced similar charges in Washington, DC but copped a plea deal on the eve of the trial that requires him to cooperate in Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
Manafort, 69, is due in Alexandria court on Friday to discuss the dismissal of the 10 counts the jury deadlocked on, which prosecutors said they would dismiss as part of the agreement.
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