Here's Paul Manafort's $15,000 ostrich jacket

In opening statements of Paul Manafortā€™s ongoing trial over bank and tax fraud charges, a federal prosecutor mentioned a $15,000 jacket ā€œmade out of an ostrichā€ to highlight the former Trump campaign chairmanā€™s extravagant lifestyle.

The question will be if the tactic works for the jury trial.

Hereā€™s a look at the jacket, according to the government evidence:

The ostrich jacket. (Department of Justice via AP).
The ostrich jacket. (Department of Justice via AP).

Prosecutors also referenced an $18,500 python jacket worth and a $9,500 ostrich vest. These items are in addition to the $21,000 Bijan black titanium wristwatch, multiple $10,000 custom-made suits, and oriental rugs valued at a total of $934,000 that will be part of the high-stakes trial.

ā€œThe evidence will show that Paul Manafort placed himself and his money above the law,ā€ Assistant U.S. Attorney Uzo Asonye, a prosecutor working on the case with special counsel Robert Mueller, said during opening statements on Tuesday in Alexandria, Va. Manafort has pleaded not guilty.

The jackets prosecutors say Paul Manafort purchased from luxury clothing stores. (Courtesy of Special Counselā€™s Office/Reuters).
The jackets prosecutors say Paul Manafort purchased from luxury clothing stores. (Courtesy of Special Counselā€™s Office/Reuters).

U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III repeatedly criticized prosecutors for discussing the defendantā€™s wardrobe, saying that they were prejudicial and drew away attention from how Manafortā€™s fraud case.

This courtroom sketch depicts Paul Manafort, seated right row second from right, together with his lawyers, the jury, seated left, and the U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis III, back center, listening to Assistant U.S. Attorney Uzo Asonye, standing, during opening arguments in the trial of President Donald Trumpā€™s former campaign chairman Manafortā€™s on tax evasion and bank fraud charges. (Dana Verkouteren via AP).

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