Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort arrives at FBI HQ to surrender to authorities as Mueller grand jury indicts him and ex business partner for $75MILLION money laundering and ‘conspiracy against the United States’
The first charges from the probe of possible Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election were unsealed Monday morning
Paul Manafort and Rick Gates were told to surrender to face charges including conspiracy against the United States and conspiracy to launder money
Other charges are being an unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts
Manafort left his home shortly after 8:00 a.m. to turn himself in; Gates is expected in court later on Monday
Indictment says Manafort and Gates controlled $75 million in slush funds, buying tailored suits, cars and antiques
A federal grand jury approved the indictment on Friday and a judge ordered it sealed then
By David Martosko, US Political Editor
DailyMail.com
30 October 2017
Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort surrendered to federal authorities on Monday as the first charges from the probe of possible Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election were unsealed.
Manafort’s onetime business partner and protege Rick Gates has also been told to turn himself in.
According to the Justice Department, the indictment against Manafort and Gates includes 12 separate criminal counts: conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts.
The government alleges that at least $75 million was moved by Manafort to offshore accounts without declaring the income to the government. Form there Manafort allegedly withdrew $18 million to fund a lavish lifestyle, and Gates pulled another $3 million out.
Among the expenses covered by Manafort-controlled entities in Cyprus were $600,000 for antiques and $500,000 paid to a Beverly Hills tailor. Other money went for premium automobiles and home renovations in Florida and the Hamptons.
Manafort also spent $934,350 at an antique rug store.
The indictment is purely focused on alleged financial crimes and does not include any charges related to the broader question that formed the basis of Mueller’s investigation – whether Donald Trump’s presidential campaign colluded with Russia to swing the 2016 election in his favor.
It describes criminal allegations that predate the Trump campaign; Trump’s name is not mentioned in the 31-page document.
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