Robert Mueller seeks SECRECY for five witnesses ahead of Paul Manafort’s SHOWDOWN trial

Mr Manafort’s trial in the federal District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia is due to begin on July 25, where he faces charges of bank and tax fraud.

Mr Mueller asked US District Judge T.S. Ellis to keep the names of witnesses secret in order to avoid the “risk of undue harassment”.

Commenting on the request, prosecutors stated: “It is necessary because the motions would reveal the identifies of uncharged third parties involved in the investigation and the trial, thereby creating the risk of undue harassment.

“Sealing is also appropriate because the information contained in the motions could lead to repetitional harm.”

The decision to grant immunity would in theory prevent witnesses from refusing to answer specific questions when testifying against Mr Manafort.

Defence lawyers had sought to move the trial to Roanoke in Virginia, arguing that Mr Manafort would not receive a fair trial in Alexandria due to its proximity to Washington DC and the extensive pre-trial publicity.

Commenting on the request, Judge Ellis said: “Nationwide press coverage of defendant’s trial will persist from now until the end of trial and perhaps beyond.

“Therefore, the proximity of defendant’s pre-trial publicity to the start of his trial will be the same in Alexandria as it would be in Roanoke or Kansas City or Dallas.”

Mr Manafort had also argued Alexandria’s overwhelming Democratic political leanings could lead to a biased jury.

Judge Ellis nevertheless rejected the accusations, and said the lawyers would be able to weed out biased jurors during their selection next week.

He said: “It would be inappropriate for courts to move trials around the country in cases of this sort until a district could be found where a defendant’s political views were shared by at least as many persons in the district as those with contrary views.”

Mr Manafort also faces a second trial on fraud and money laundering charges which is scheduled to take place in Washington DC in September.

In total he faces 18 charges and could be given a sentence over 300 years in prison if found guilty.

He is currently being held in jail in Alexandria.

His $10million (£7.6million) bail was revoked by another federal judge in June after he was accused of tampering with potential witnesses.