Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., reacting to Tuesday's news former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort had been found guilty of bank and tax fraud and former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to eight federal charges, said the American legal system was "working its will in both" cases, but the outcomes did not result in charges or convictions for colluding with the Russian government "by any member of the Trump campaign" in the 2016 presidential election.
"It's important to let this process continue without interference," Graham added in his statement, posted to Twitter. "I hope Mr. [Robert] Mueller can conclude his investigation sooner rather than later for the benefit of the nation."
Manafort was found guilty Tuesday on five counts of submitting false tax returns, one count of failing to report foreign bank and financial accounts, and two counts of bank fraud. A judge declared a mistrial on 10 other counts after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict.
Cohen in a separate trial pleaded guilty to eight federal charges, including campaign finance fraud stemming from his role in arranging hush money payments to two women who alleged to have had affairs with President Donald Trump before he ran for office.
In his plea deal, Cohen said he arranged the payoffs to porn actress Stormy Daniels and ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal "in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office."
The trial carries major implications for the future of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Trump has repeatedly called the probe a "witch hunt" that has not found evidence of Russian collusion with his campaign, and his allies in and out of the White House say the special counsel should wrap things up.
Trump told reporters Tuesday he felt "very badly" for Manafort and Cohen and again referred to Mueller's probe as a witch hunt.
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