Trump to lunch with Sessions amid Manafort charges

President Trump on Monday is scheduled to have lunch with Attorney General Jeff Sessions, just hours after Trump’s former campaign chairman was indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller. 

Sessions was invited to join Trump’s weekly lunch with Vice President Pence, which is closed to press coverage.

It’s likely Trump will raise the indictment of Paul Manafort, which represents a significant escalation of the special counsel probe that has loomed over his presidency for months.

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The president in the past has criticized Sessions for his handling of the Russia investigation, blaming his decision to recuse himself for Mueller’s appointment.

Mueller’s team charged Manafort with 12 counts, including conspiracy against the United States and money laundering related to his work for a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine.

Some believe Mueller could use the charges to attempt to extract information from Manafort about whether the campaign colluded with Russia to interfere in the election.

Trump allies have expressed confidence Manafort would not reveal damaging information about Trump or his team in a deal with prosecutors.