ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Government prosecutors in the criminal trial of 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 said Wednesday that they might not call Manafort's former business associate Richard Gates to testify.

“He may testify in this case, he may not," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Uzo Asonye.

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Judge T.S. Ellis said that was news to him.

Gates, a former Trump campaign adviser who pleaded guilty in February as part of a deal with 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, is considered the star witness for the prosecution because of his close business ties to Manafort. He was on a list of 35 potential witnesses who could be called to testify.

During opening statements on Tuesday, defense attorneys revealed their legal strategy by saying Manafort put Gates in charge of his business and personal finances while he was working abroad, and that Gates took advantage by “lining his own pockets.”

Manafort is facing 18 counts of bank and tax fraud, including allegations that he laundered $30 million from work on behalf of pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians and that he hid money overseas in unreported foreign accounts to avoid paying U.S. taxes.