Paul Manafort was indicted in October in special counsel Robert Mueller's (MUHL'-urs) Russia investigation. A suit Manafort filed last month challenges the scope of Mueller's appointment and authority.
The government says in a court filing yesterday that a judge should throw out that suit.
Justice Department lawyers say federal courts are prohibited from interfering with ongoing criminal prosecutions, and that Mueller's been operating properly and not exceeded his authority.
The department says if Manafort believes he's being unfairly prosecuted, then he can file a motion in his criminal case to seek to have it dismissed.