Manafort’s lawyers say he isn’t a flight risk: He’s not ‘Jason Bourne’

Lawyers representing former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort pushed back on a U.S. District Court judge’s claim that Manafort was a flight risk after he was charged with illegal foreign lobbying, bank fraud and tax evasion, offering on Saturday to post $12.5 million-worth of assets as bond to be released from house arrest. 

Manafort’s attorneys argued in a motion filed on Saturday that his past business travel does not make him a flight risk in the future. 

“While some reports have painted this as though Mr. Manafort is akin to a 68-year-old ‘Jason Bourne’ character, the facts are much more mundane,” his lawyers wrote, referencing the spy thriller Bourne Identity films.

“Mr. Manafort has been providing consulting services for international clients for many years and no one disputes this fact. It would be odd, indeed, if he did not frequently travel, both domestically and abroad, given his clientele and the nature of his business,” the filing continues. “Simply put, one’s frequent flyer status should not be over-emphasized to show a potential risk of flight when a person’s job requires extensive travel.”

Manafort, who is currently under house arrest, is offering up a Trump Tower condo in Manhattan, as well as other real estate, as part of a bail package in order to be released. 

The motion comes two days after U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson said on Thursday that Manafort could pose a flight risk. 

“The charges are significant and his ties and assets abroad are significant so I have concerns about flight,” Jackson said.

“I am very concerned that the bond is not sufficient or that a bond without monitoring would be sufficient,” she continued. “We don’t need to have them under lock and key 24/7, but if they leave we need to know where they went.”

Manafort had three U.S. passports before he handed them over to the FBI.

His lawyers said it is normal for individuals that travel abroad frequently.