Ex-Trump Campaign Manager Paul Manafort Indicted in Robert Mueller’s Russia Probe

Manafort and business partner Rick Gates told to surrender to authorities, according to New York Times

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Paul Manafort, the former chairman of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, and his long-time associate Rick Gates surrendered to authorities on Monday as the first people charged in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election.

Manafort and Gates “acted as unregistered agents of the government of the Ukraine,” for which they generated “tens of millions of dollars” the indictment reads. “In order to hide Ukraine payments from United States authorities through approximately 2006 through at least 2016, Manafort and Gates laundered the money through scores of United States and foreign corporations, partnerships, and bank accounts.”

According to CNN, the indictment contains 12 counts: conspiracy against the U.S., conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading statements related to the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts.

None of the charges relate directly to the Trump campaign, though prosecutors have the ability to amend indictments with additional charges.

In addition to that, news broke Monday that Trump campaign foreign policy advisor George Papadopolous has pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI.

According to the New York Times, Manafort was under FBI investigation long before joining the Trump campaign for possible violations of federal tax law, money laundering and whether he properly disclosed his foreign lobbying.

Both men were deeply embedded in Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, with Manafort serving as chairman during the fraught Republican National Convention.

Both men have pleaded not guilty, journalist Yashar Ali reported Monday.

You can read the full indictment below.

Paul Manafort Indictment by Doug Mataconis on Scribd

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