Prosecutors say longtime Manafort colleague has ‘ties’ to Russian intelligence

The following article by Rosalind S. Helderman and Spencer S. Hsu was posted on the Washington Post website December 4, 2017:

Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign chairman, arrives at the courthouse on Nov. 2. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

Federal prosecutors asserted Monday that a longtime associate of Paul Manafort, the former chairman of President Trump’s campaign, has been “assessed to have ties” to Russian intelligence — the first time the special counsel has alleged a Trump official had such contacts.

The statement came as prosecutors working for special counsel Robert S. Mueller III withdrew their support for a joint bail deal filed last week that would have released Manafort from home detention and GPS monitoring while he awaits trial on charges including money laundering and fraud.

Manafort, 68, and his longtime deputy, Rick Gates, 45, have both pleaded not guilty to charges filed Oct. 30. Continue reading “Prosecutors say longtime Manafort colleague has ‘ties’ to Russian intelligence”