Trump-Russia: Manafort 'paid European ex-politicians' - BBC News

24/2/2018

Trump-Russia: Manafort 'paid European ex-politicians'

Mr Manafort insists he is innocent

Ex-Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort secretly paid unnamed former senior European politicians to lobby for Ukraine's previous pro-Russia government, a new indictment filed by special counsel Robert Mueller says.

Mr Manafort paid over €2m ($2.5m; £1.8m) to the ex-politicians, including a former European chancellor, it says.

He maintains his innocence.

Mr Trump's ex-deputy campaign manager, Rick Gates, has admitted conspiracy and lying to investigators in a plea deal.

Mr Mueller is investigating claims of Russian political meddling in the US.

There are no allegations that either man colluded with Russia to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, which is the main thrust of the justice department investigation.

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What are the latest allegations against Mr Manafort?

Previously, Mr Manafort was charged with multiple counts of tax and bank fraud.

He faces new charges of conspiracy, money-laundering, failing to register as an agent for a foreign actor and making false statements.

His alleged payments to former senior European politicians were made in 2012 and 2013, the new indictment says.

He is also alleged to have created a group called the Hapsburg Group to give the former politicians' lobbying efforts the appearance of independent analysis.

The alleged group was managed by a former European chancellor, according to the indictment.

The former chancellor is not named, but referred to only as "Foreign Politician A" in the indictment. Only three European countries have chancellors - Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

The alleged paid lobbying was part of Mr Manafort's work for the Ukrainian government, a pro-Russian party, the Party of Regions, and its leader Viktor Yanukovych, who was president between 2010 and 2014, the indictment says.

Mr Manafort's work for Ukrainian pro-Russian political parties is said to have continued after Mr Yanukovych was overthrown and fled to Russia in 2014 following anti-government protests.

The indictment says Mr Manafort did not register as an agent of a foreign principal for this work as required by law.

He is also alleged to have hidden millions of dollars made from his Ukraine work in offshore accounts.

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What does Mr Gates say?

The new indictment was filed after Rick Gates pledged to co-operate in "any and all matters" with the Mueller inquiry.

Mr Gates, 45, is named in the new Manafort indictment as having worked to hide Ukraine income from the US authorities.

In a court appearance, Mr Gates admitted charges of conspiracy and lying to investigators.

Rick Gates said he had "had a change of heart" after his initial not-guilty plea

He had previously had been indicted on more serious criminal counts, including bank fraud and money laundering.

In a letter to family and friends, Mr Gates said he had "had a change of heart" after his initial not-guilty plea, according to ABC News.

He reportedly said he was ready to accept "public humiliation" to avoid inflicting prolonged pain on his children.

"The reality of how long this legal process will likely take, the cost, and the circus-like atmosphere of an anticipated trial are too much," he reportedly wrote. "I will better serve my family moving forward by exiting this process."

Sentencing guidelines for him suggest a prison term of between 57 and 71 months. He could have faced decades in prison under the more serious charges.

How did Mr Manafort respond to the plea deal?

The man who resigned as Trump campaign chairman in August 2016 after five months amid questions over his business dealings maintains his innocence.

He did not comment immediately on the new indictment brought against himself but did respond to Mr Gates's plea deal, insisting he was innocent.

"I had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence," he said in a statement.

"For reasons yet to surface he chose to do otherwise. This does not alter my commitment to defend myself against the untrue piled up charges contained in the indictments against me."

Mr Manafort has worked on several Republican presidential campaigns, beginning with Gerald Ford's in 1976.

How many people has Mr Mueller charged?

Nineteen people - including Mr Manafort and Mr Gates - have been indicted by the special counsel:

Michael Flynn, a former US national security adviser, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI over meetings he had with the Russian Ambassador, Sergei Kislyak

George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign adviser, admitted lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russians

Last week, 13 Russians were charged with tampering in the 2016 US election and a California man, Richard Pinedo, admitted an identity theft charge

This week London-based lawyer Alex van der Zwaan pleaded guilty in court to making false statements when questioned about his work for Ukraine's justice ministry

Mr Trump has said there was no collusion. Moscow has rejected US intelligence claims of interference.