Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort Paul John ManafortOur Constitution is under attack by Attorney General William Barr Bannon trial date set in alleged border wall scam Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE told his former business partner Richard Gates that it would be stupid to plead guilty because President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE's counsel was "going to take care of us," according to special counsel Robert Mueller Robert (Bob) MuellerCNN's Toobin warns McCabe is in 'perilous condition' with emboldened Trump CNN anchor rips Trump over Stone while evoking Clinton-Lynch tarmac meeting The Hill's 12:30 Report: New Hampshire fallout MORE's report.

Gates asked Manfaort during the exchange last year whether pardons were discussed and Manafort told him that the word was not directly used, according to the report released Thursday.

"In January 2018, Manafort told Gates that he had talked to the President's personal counsel and they were 'going to take care of us,' " the report said.

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"Manafort told Gates it was stupid to plead, saying that he had been in touch with the President's personal counsel and repeating that they should 'sit tight' and 'we'll be taken care of,' " it continued. "Gates asked Manafort outright if anyone mentioned pardons and Manafort said no one used that word."

Manafort said he hoped for a pardon but never discussed one with Trump, according to the report.

Manafort and Gates were charged in Mueller's probe in October 2017. Gates pleaded guilty last year to conspiring against the U.S. and making a false statement to federal officials. Manafort was convicted of filing false tax returns, bank fraud and failing to report foreign bank accounts.

Rudy Giuliani Rudy GiulianiThe Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting CIA found Putin 'probably directing' campaign against Biden: report Democrats fear Russia interference could spoil bid to retake Senate MORE, who represents Trump, told The Washington Post last year that the president asked him for advice on whether to pardon Manafort.

Giuliani clarified later in a statement that his "only conversation about a pardon was a generic one that occurred."

The Justice Department on Thursday released a redacted version of Mueller's highly anticipated report on whether there was Russian interference in the 2016 election, including whether Russia colluded with the Trump campaign.