Manafort gets to keep his exotic ostrich and python jackets - but can't wear them in prison and won't be out of the slammer for at least 7.5 years

  • Paul Manafort's ostrich-leather coat and snakeskin jacket will be waiting for him when he gets out of prison
  • He'll get to keep his high-end outerwear, including the $15,000 ostrich-skin jacket, an $18,500 python bomber and other fancy clothes
  • Clothes he purchased while he was committing crimes were not part of a federal government property and asset seizure, estimated at $36 million
  • Manafort is nearly 70 and has a 7.5 year prison sentence to serve, a least - New York charged him with 16 additional counts of fraud month
  • President Trump could issue a pardon for Manafort's federal financial crimes, but has no power to save him from state charges

By FRANCESCA CHAMBERS, SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: | Updated:

Paul Manafort's ostrich-leather coat and snakeskin jacket will be waiting for him when he gets out of prison.

He'll get to keep the high-end outerwear, CNN reports. The $15,000 ostrich-skin jacket, an $18,500 python bomber and other fancy clothes he purchased while he was committing crimes were not part of a federal government asset and property seizure, estimated at $36 million.

Manafort is nearly 70 and has a 7.5 year prison sentence to serve, a least. 

The state of New York charged him with 16 additional counts of fraud month. 

He gets to keep the $15,000 ostrich-skin jacket
The feds also left his $18,500 python bomber jacket

Paul Manafort's ostrich-leather coat and snakeskin jacket will be waiting for him when he gets out of prison

President Trump could issue a pardon for Manafort's federal financial crimes, which the president's former campaign chairman says would have went unnoticed were it not for the investigation into allegations of Russian collusion.

He has no such authority to let him off the hook for crimes he could be convicted of at the state level. 

Manafort is currently serving consecutive sentences for crimes he committed in connection with his private consulting business. They were uncovered during the special counsel probe, but they were not directly related to the former businessman's for Donald Trump.

Manafort is nearly 70 and has a 7.5 year prison sentence to serve, a least. This photo of him was taken last June; he was wheeled into the courtroom this month in a wheel chair

Manafort is nearly 70 and has a 7.5 year prison sentence to serve, a least. This photo of him was taken last June; he was wheeled into the courtroom this month in a wheel chair

The feds found custom-made House of Bijan and Alan Couture suits, in addition to the ostrich and snakeskin jackets, at Manafort's home. The special counsel presented the coats as evidence of the wealth that was generated from Manafort's crimes at trial last August

The feds found custom-made House of Bijan and Alan Couture suits, in addition to the ostrich and snakeskin jackets, at Manafort's home. The special counsel presented the coats as evidence of the wealth that was generated from Manafort's crimes at trial last August

Kevin Downing, defense attorney to the former Trump campaign chairman, speaks on the day Manafort was sentenced at the U.S. District Court in Washington this month

Kevin Downing, defense attorney to the former Trump campaign chairman, speaks on the day Manafort was sentenced at the U.S. District Court in Washington this month

Manafort managed Trump's convention strategy and held the title of campaign chairman. He left in August of 2016, months before the election, when unaccounted for checks he allegedly received from an ousted, Ukrainian political leader brought him unwanted national attention.

The FBI eventually raided his home, after Trump was already in office. They found custom-made House of Bijan and Alan Couture suits, in addition to the ostrich and snakeskin jackets. The special counsel presented the coats as evidence of the wealth that was generated from Manafort's crimes at trial last August. 

Testimony at trial from the companies revealed that Manafort would spend as much as $128,000 on custom outfits at one time and once paid $32,800 by wire transfer for an animal-skin jacket.

Investigators found a camel hair sportcoat valued at $6,500 and an ostrich vest worth $9,500 that they photographed but never confiscated, CNN reports.  

Manafort will get to keep the high-end coats and suits and homes worth at least $4 million in Florida and Alexandria, Virginia, where his wife, Kathleen, still lives.   

He forfeited five other properties in New York and the sum total of three bank plus his life insurance policy. His properties, including his Trump Tower condo, were be sold to pay off his mortgages. 

This courtroom sketch shows Paul Manafort in a wheel chair in the U.S. District Courtroom during his sentencing hearing

This courtroom sketch shows Paul Manafort in a wheel chair in the U.S. District Courtroom during his sentencing hearing

The rest of the money from the property and assets the government seized will go into a government fund for crime victims.  

None of the money will be put toward the tab for the special counsel probe that cost more than $25 million before it concluded last week. Taxpayers are on the hook for that.

And Manafort still owes the federal government $17 million - $6 million of which is due to be directed to the IRS for back taxes.  

 

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