A man who once ran U.S. President Donald Trump's presidential election campaign has surrendered to U.S. law enforcement.
Paul Manafort, and former business associate Rick Gates, were summoned by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. The New York Times reports the arrests show an escalation in the investigation.
According to CNN, they both pleaded not guilty in court on Monday.
Paul Manafort and his ally Rick Gates plead not guilty to charges in connection with special counsel's investigation https://t.co/0UHHZrURH6
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) October 30, 2017
The FBI carried out a search warrant at Manafort's home last July.
Manafort, Trump's former campaign chairman, had expected charges since this summer, when FBI agents raided his home https://t.co/Vj5erS3HEf
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 30, 2017
On Friday, CNN reported a federal grand jury had approved charges in the probe into Russian influence into the presidential election last year.
BREAKING: Former Trump campaign official Rick Gates was told to turn himself in to Robert Mueller https://t.co/SjeMoc0mAt pic.twitter.com/eCPolEkTV5
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) October 30, 2017
The 31-page indictment includes 12 counts including conspiracy to launder money, failing to register as a foreign agent [for the Ukrainian government], making false statements, and failing to file reports for foreign bank accounts. It alleges Manafort and Gates had $75-million in offshore accounts.
Manafort joined Trump's campaign in March 2016, but was fired months later after reports he received more than $12-million in payments from Viktor F. Yanukovych, the former Ukrainian president and a pro-Russian politician.
Following the release of the indictment, Democratic minority leader Nancy Pelosi called for an outside independent investigation.
Various media outlets also say another charge could be approved later in the day Monday.
