Trump ex-campaign manager Manafort sues U.S. Justice Dept.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Paul Manafort, former campaign manager of U.S. President Donald Trump, has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Justice (DOJ) in U.S. federal court, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, and Special Counsel Robert Mueller, it was revealed Wednesday.

Manafort accused that Rosenstein's order appointing Mueller "exceeds the Deputy Attorney General's authority," and Mueller has strayed beyond the scope of the investigation he was authorized to pursue over the alleged Russia meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.

"The actions of DOJ and Mr. Rosenstein in issuing the Appointment Order, and Mr. Mueller's actions pursuant to the authority the Order granted him, were arbitrary, capricious, and not in accordance with the law," the suit reads.

All actions taken by the special counsel "must be set aside," a CNBC report quoted Manafort's lawyers as saying.

Manafort, who served as Donald Trump's presidential campaign manager from June to August 2016, was indicted on Oct. 27 last year on 12 counts related to unlawful financial dealings. The authorities said Manafort laundered more than 18 million U.S. dollars.

However, the indictment of Manafort and his former business associate Rick Gates neither mentioned Trump nor election meddling. Manafort pleaded not guilty and has been contesting the charges. A trial is scheduled to begin in May.

Mueller, the retired FBI director, was appointed in last May as Special Counsel in charge of the Russia probe. His prosecutors have been presenting evidence before a federal grand jury in Washington.

Trump has vigorously denied allegations of collusion between his campaign and Moscow during the presidential election. The Russian government has also repeatedly dismissed seeking to influence the U.S. elections. Enditem