Paul Manafort, now-ailing former Trump campaign chief, to be sentenced Feb. 8

Kevin Johnson | USA TODAY

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A federal judge set a Feb. 8 sentencing date for a now-ailing Paul Manafort Friday, even as the former Trump campaign chairman continued to cooperate with Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller’s inquiry into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.

Manafort appeared in federal court here in a wheelchair with a swollen right foot sheathed in a white sock as defense attorney Kevin Downing urged an expedited sentencing date, saying that there were “significant issues” related to his client’s health.

Downing did not elaborate on Manafort’s condition, but a person familiar with the matter said Manafort is suffering from a diet-related inflammation in his right foot.

The person, who is not authorized to comment publicly, declined to say anything more except to describe Manafort’s condition as serious.

Manafort, who did not speak during the brief hearing, was convicted on eight counts of financial fraud in an August trial where the jury deadlocked on 10 other counts.

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III dismissed those counts Friday, saying he was unwilling to wait until Manafort’s cooperation was complete.

More: ‘I plead guilty’: Paul Manafort enters cooperation deal with Mueller team

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Ellis had asked prosecutors to decide whether they would retry Manafort on the 10 deadlocked counts, but he took the action to dismiss them when prosecutors said they could not determine when Manafort’s assistance would be finished.

Manafort's August Virginia trial was the first contested prosecution brought by Mueller.

Last month, Manafort struck a deal to cooperate with Mueller's team to avoid a second related trial in the District of Columbia.

Since then, he has been meeting with Mueller team in the continuing Russia inquiry.

Manafort's was not convicted of participating in the election interference campaign. But his oversight of the campaign and his participation in key meetings, including a 2016 Trump Tower gathering of top campaign advisers with a Russian attorney promising damaging information on then-Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, could have a bearing on Mueller's investigation into possible coordination with Russia.