Supreme Court ruled that “dual sovereignty doctrine” — which allows a person to face both state and federal charges for the same offense — does not violates the Fifth Amendment’s Double Jeopardy Clause.

“Although the dual-sovereignty rule is often dubbed an ‘exception’ to the double jeopardy right, it is not an exception at all,” Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the opinion. “On the contrary, it follows from the text that defines that right in the first place.”

This ruling complicates Manafort case because even if President Trump would grants him a pardon, that would affect federal cases and not the new charges at state level.

Manafort has been convicted of federal crimes that include bank and tax fraud. Manafort is also facing 16 counts in New York, including conspiracy, residential mortgage fraud, and falsifying business records. The charges are based on allegations similar to ones related to his federal convictions.

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