Transcript for Day 1 of criminal trial begins for Trump former campaign chairman

Oping Heline Toni Paul begun. He'shemer cpaign airesident trump. He standsf dozens financiaimes. Theiie witness, mart's partner, Rick Gates, is seto tesfy againhim. Manafort's team saying in court that Gates is willingsay the first tegs of special counsel Robert Mueller and the president haseatedly called Mueller's work a witch ABC's kyrphillips is at the courthouse in alexaria, Virginia, tonight. Reporter: He was right at the center of tction -- Think Thi looks good. Rorter: --Ng the trca F three crucial months, guiding candidate into the convention. And Paul manafoas azing job. He's he place. Where's Paul? Pa manafort. Rter: But Tay president trump' campaign chairman going from his jail to day O of his iminal tri. Osecutors say Paul manafort "Believed that H above the law," that he the irs" and "Kngly filedalse tax returns," failing to report tens oflions of dla wing for a rainian political party with deep ties he accused riding the money offshore nk accounts, opening more than 30 accounts in three countries and using the cash to "Bankroll his lavish life," luxuryeal estate, fancy suit antique rs. Specobert muler's Gates, president'de camger through the election. Lse statemenn exchangeor his testimony. Manafort lawyer toy charging say anything tsalf." Because he"embezzled millions of Anythg to say, Mr. Nafort? Reporter: Manafort allegedly committed Imes well be he jned the trp aign. The caoes not involve any allegations of collu with Russia to meddle ie elec buthe CAS seems to have shaken president trump, especi after fbiagents mana'some just before dawn last summer that'sreugh stuff. To wakhim up, perhaps his nowdistancingimself from the man who once ran his campaign. Paulafort wasrepled long bore the election took place. As only there for short periodti Reporr: Now, L team is shigstrategy, moving from this simpleion -- There was no collusion. At all. Evody knows . Reporter: -- Tos from the president's lawyer. I'veee sittingere looking in the federal code tr to fd colsion as a not. Collusionnot a crime. Rorter: Today, th presidt F tweeting on is not a crime. But that doesn't matter because E was no clu outside th courthouse in inia tonig. Andky pau manafort resting flipng and help withhe investigation. So, now by going to T, and th is just the first trial he fa if coted, he could spend the his life behi bars? Reporter: That'solutely ri David. No question, the stakes are high R nafort. But U ow, they're sky high R Robert Eller, a well this is the first case special hasro ial and fort is take away some O president trums ability to actua an aimless witch hunt. Yra philli at the courthousetot. Thk you.

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