Manafort sues Justice Department over Russia probe

WASHINGTON—Attorneys for President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Justice Department and investigators probing alleged interference with the 2016 U.S. presidential election by Russian operatives. Last fall, special counsel Robert Mueller and his team filed criminal charges against Manafort, including money laundering and tax evasion. He pleaded not guilty. Manafort’s 17-page complaint filed in federal court argues Mueller overreached his authority and should be removed. Manafort’s attorneys claim the charges against their client over past business dealings fall outside the scope of Mueller’s investigation into Russia. “The principle that government must be both limited in power and accountable to the people lies at the core of our constitutional traditions,” Manafort attorneys Kevin Downing and Thomas Zehnle wrote. “That principle must be zealously guarded against creeping incursions.” Manafort’s attorneys name the Department of Justice, Mueller, and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein as co-defendants. Rosenstein appointed Mueller after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the investigation. Only Rosenstein could fire Mueller, but Trump could fire Rosenstein and appoint someone who would remove Mueller. In December, officials freed Manafort from house arrest and allowed him to relocate to South Florida under a $10 million bail settlement.