Paul Manafort jailed in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day for his own protection

Paul Manafort is locked 23 hours a day in solitary confinement for his own protection as he awaits trial in the special counsel probe of Russian election interference.

The former Trump campaign chairman's attorneys filed court documents this week claiming Manafort is unable to adequately prepare for his two upcoming trials while jailed, reported New York Magazine.

The first of Manafort's trials begins later this month.

Defense attorney Kevin Downing also argued that the witness tampering charge shouldn't have landed Manafort in jail because there were no threats of violence, and they asked for his release.

Mueller's prosecutors, however, said Manafort's "corrupt" efforts to influence witness testimony were "no less damaging to the justice system" than violence.

The special counsel's office also argued that Manafort's treatment was no worse than other defendants who were jailed ahead of trial.

Manafort has reportedly been jailed since June 15 in the “VIP” section of Virginia’s Northern Neck Regional Jail.