Paul Manafort
Current Status: Indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Conspiracy Against the United States, Conspiracy to Launder Money, Failure to File Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, Unregistered Agent of a Foreign Principal, False and Misleading FARA Statements, and False Statements. In response, Manafort filed a lawsuit against Acting Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Special Counsel Mueller on January 3, 2018.
Former Status: Campaign manager for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign; In August 2016, Manafort's connections to former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and his Party of Regions drew national attention in the USA, where it was reported that Manafort may have illegally received $12.7 million in off-the-books funds from the Party of Regions. On August 17, 2016, Donald Trump received his first security briefing and the New York Times reported on an internal staff memorandum from Manafort stating that Manafort would "remain the campaign chairman and chief strategist, providing the big-picture, long-range campaign vision". However, two days later, Trump announced his acceptance of Manafort's resignation from the campaign after Stephen Bannon and Kellyanne Conway took on senior leadership roles within that campaign.
Allegations: Special Counsel Robert Mueller has indicted Paul Manafort on Conspiracy Against the United States, Conspiracy to Launder Money, Failure to File Reports of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, Unregistered Agent of a Foreign Principal, False and Misleading FARA Statements, and False Statements.
Manafort is accused of money laundering a $750K payment from Yanukovych through a Belize-based company in October, 2009. - [Source]
Manafort is accused of receiving a $750K "illegal, off-the-books payments from Ukraine's pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych before he was toppled." - [Source]
From 2006 to at least 2009, Manafort had a $10 million annual contract with Putin ally and aluminum magnate, Oleg Deripaska, to "influence politics, business dealings and new coverage inside the U.S., Europe and former Soviet republics" to benefit Putin's interests. - [Source]
From 2006 to 2012, Manafort did consulting work for then-president of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych. In 2014, Yanukovych was forced out of office and fled to Russia. - [Source]
Text messages that are purported to have been hacked from Manafort's daughter included an allegation by one daughter to another that Manafort: "has killed people in Ukraine? Knowingly"; "has no moral or legal compass"; and takes "blood money". - [Source 1] [Source 2]
Relevant Links
YouTube - Paul Manafort Struggles Denying Trump-Russia Ties
January 3, 2018. PAUL J. MANAFORT, JR., Plaintiff, v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, ROD J. ROSENSTEIN, and ROBERT S. MUELLER III, Defendants. Lawsuit filed by Paul Manafort against the Acting Attorney General and Special Counsel in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, arguing they do not have the authority to prosecute him.
December 4, 2017. Government's Opposition to the Motion of Defendant Paul J. Manafort, Jr.'s Motion to Modify Conditions of Release. Memorandum filed in the U.S. District Court for the Dicstrict of Columbia in regards to the criminal indictment of U.S.A. v. Paul J. Manafort, Jr. and Richard W. Gates III.
October 31, 2017. Government's Memorandum in Support of Conditions of Release, Complex Case Designation and Notice of Intent to Use Certain Bank Records. Memorandum filed in the U.S. District Court for the Dicstrict of Columbia in regards to the criminal indictment of U.S.A. v. Paul J. Manafort, Jr. and Richard W. Gates III.
October 30, 2017. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. PAUL J. MANAFORT, JR. and RICHARD W. GATES III, Defendants. Arrest Warrant.
October 27, 2017. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA v. PAUL J. MANAFORT, JR. and RICHARD W. GATES III, Defendants. Criminal indictment filed in the U.S. District Court for the Dicstrict of Columbia.
News Articles
Documents reveal how Manafort connected with Trump: report
Paul Manafort, Former Trump Campaign Chief, Faces New Allegations in Ukraine
Paul Manafort's Puzzing New York Real Estate Purchases
Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort took out $19 million in puzzling real estate loans
Donald Trump's former campaign manager 'tried to hide $750,000 payment', says Ukrainian politician
Primer: What you need to know about Paul Manafort
Paul Manafort is reportedly under investigation by the U.S. Treasury's financial crimes unit
Paul Manafort, Former Trump Campaign Chief, Faces New Allegations in Ukraine
Paul Manafort faces fresh accusations in Ukraine after document find
REVEALED: Paul Manafort's shadowy Cyprus bank transactions under investigation by US Treasury
Secret Ledger in Ukraine Lists Cash for Donald Trump's Campaign Chief