FBI raided former Trump campaign manager's home in Russia probe

[webfact]

FBI raided former Trump campaign manager's home in Russia probe

By Sarah N. Lynch and Patricia Zengerle

 

FILE PHOTO: Paul Manafort, campaign manager to Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, escapes a mob of reporters asking about the Republican National Convention Committee on Rules in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 14, 2016. REUTERS/Rick Wilking/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A July FBI raid on the Virginia home of President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, confirmed on Wednesday, showed that a federal investigation of possible ties between Trump's campaign and Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election was intensifying.

 

Federal Bureau of Investigation agents executed a search warrant at one of Paul Manafort's homes, his spokesman Jason Maloni said.

 

A source familiar with the work of Robert Mueller, the special counsel named by the Justice Department in May to investigate the Russia matter, said the raid was part of the first stage of his probe, focused on seeking evidence of financial crimes.

 

Mueller's team is examining money-laundering accusations against Manafort, poring over his financial and real estate records in New York as well as his involvement in Ukrainian politics, two officials told Reuters last month.

 

The house in Alexandria, a suburb of Washington, was raided in the early morning hours of July 26 by agents who seized documents and other material, a day after Manafort had met with Senate Intelligence Committee staff, the Washington Post reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the probe.

 

Tax documents and financial records were sought by agents for Mueller in the raid, the New York Times reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

 

"Mr. Manafort has consistently cooperated with law enforcement and other serious inquiries and did so on this occasion as well," Maloni said in an email.

 

Trump has called Mueller's investigation a "witch hunt." Allegations of collusion between Trump associates and Moscow have hounded the Republican president since he took office in January, presenting a major distraction from his policy agenda.

 

The FBI did not immediately return a request for comment. Joshua Stueve, a spokesman for Mueller's office, declined to confirm the raid.

 

'PAPER TRAILS'

 

A key question for investigators was whether Manafort had knowledge of any Trump campaign dealings with Russia, including meetings with Russians with government ties, said the source familiar with Mueller's work.

 

The same question was relevant to investigators in regard to Trump's fired former national security adviser, retired Army Lieutenant General Michael Flynn, the source said.

 

"Financial matters have paper trails that can be easy to pick up and follow, so that's a logical place to start," the source added.

 

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the presidential race, in part by hacking and releasing emails embarrassing to Trump's opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, to help him get elected in November.

 

Congressional committees are looking at a June 2016 meeting in New York with a Russian lawyer organised by Trump's eldest son. Donald Trump Jr. released emails last month that showed he welcomed the prospect of receiving damaging information about Clinton. Manafort attended the meeting.

 

Experts pointed to the fact that the FBI had enough evidence to get approval for a search warrant concerning Manafort.

 

"Somewhere, there now exists under seal what is likely a very detailed affidavit laying out criminal allegations involving Paul Manafort, and specifically, there is probable cause to believe he has committed a crime or there is evidence of a crime at his home," said Alex Little, a former federal prosecutor now with the law firm Bone McAllester Norton.

 

Manafort has been cooperating with congressional probes. He met with Senate Intelligence Committee investigators last month and has been negotiating an appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

 

Committee leaders said they wanted to discuss not just the campaign, but also Manafort's work on behalf of interests in Ukraine. Russia's aggression in Ukraine was one reason Congress defied Trump and passed new sanctions on Moscow last month.

 

Manafort had worked as a consultant to a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine and helped support the country's Kremlin-backed former leader, Viktor Yanukovich. According to a financial audit reported by the New York Times, he also once owed $17 million to Russian shell companies.

 

A Senate Judiciary Committee aide said the panel received 20,000 pages of documents from Trump's presidential campaign and 400 pages of documents from Manafort on Aug. 2. On Aug. 4, the committee received 240 pages of documents from Donald Trump Jr.

 

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch, Patricia Zengerle, Richard Cowan and John Walcott; Writing by Doina Chiacu and Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Kevin Drawbaugh and Will Dunham)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-08-10

[Somtamnication]

Glad Trump is emptying the swamp. LOL. 

[mtls2005]

FBI raids Manafort's home at dawn on July 26, 2017.

 

Manafort's got two options: flip and sing, or hope someone can pardon him.

 

Trumps two tweets later that same day...

 

 

[tonray]

Right now Mr. Manafort's lawyers are likely discussing "The Art of the Deal" with federal prosecutors. Only a matter of time now.

[sirineou]

In their quest to prove money laundering 

It is my understanding that they confiscated his laundry detergent and are having it compared to the laundry detergent found on Russian oligarchs money.

They both smelled lemony fresh!!

Edited August 10, 2017 by sirineou

[mtls2005]

12 minutes ago, sirineou said:

In their quest to prove money laundering 

It is my understanding that they confiscated his laundry detergent and are having it compared to the laundry detergent found on Russian oligarchs money.

They both smelled lemony fresh!!

With a hint of Cyprus.

 

 

[thehelmsman]

Yet "they" gave Crooked Hillary time to destroy 30,000 emails and all her phones with hammers. Nothing biased here. Nope.

[mtls2005]

Manafort has been under surveillance for eons (legally, because of counter-intelligence concerns).

 

His phone was hot-miced, whereby the authorities could turn on the microphone on his phone via the SS7 exploit and listen to his in-person conversations.

 

He's so baked. He doesn't know how much trouble he is in, yet. Trump does know he himself is in a bit of trouble.

 

Rumors are that candidate Trump did come into the infamous Jun 2016 meeting (Russia, Dirt, Hilary), and it is on tape via Manafort's hot-mic.

 

I guess Trump could direct Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III to begin an investigation into Hilary Clinton, but that might come off as too "banana-y republic"?

 

 

 

 

Edited August 10, 2017 by mtls2005

[ilostmypassword]

26 minutes ago, thehelmsman said:

Yet "they" gave Crooked Hillary time to destroy 30,000 emails and all her phones with hammers. Nothing biased here. Nope.

but but but but but but but but Hillary!!!!!

[mtls2005]

Feds Subpoena Records for $3.5M Mystery Mortgage on Manafort’s Home

 

Federal investigators have subpoenaed records related to a $3.5 million mortgage that former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort took out on his Hamptons home just after leaving the campaign, according to a source familiar with the matter.

 

The mortgage document that explains how Manafort would pay back the loan was never filed with Suffolk County, New York — and Manafort’s company never paid up to $36,000 in taxes that would be due on the loan.

 

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/feds-subpoena-records-3-5m-mortgage-manaforts-home-n759866

[tonray]

3 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Glad Trump is emptying the swamp. LOL. 

Turns out that the pump Donald bought to drain the swamp was a recirculating pump and the outlet hose just comes in around the back! 

[Rancid]

6 hours ago, Somtamnication said:

Glad Trump is emptying the swamp. LOL. 

So far Swamp 10, Trump 0

 

Almost game set and match, that much institutionalized corruption cannot be opposed...

[mtls2005]

Manafort's son-in-law Jeffrey Yohai is in deep doo doo for running a real estate Ponzi scheme in California, which bilked Dustin Hopffman among others.

 

Manafort is implicated in this scheme.

 

Just when you think this guy couldn't be dirtier...

 

 

F.B.I. Investigating Deals Involving Paul Manafort and Son-in-Law

 

Federal investigators are examining financial transactions involving Paul Manafort and his son-in-law, who embarked on a series of real estate deals in recent years fueled by millions of dollars from Mr. Manafort, according to two people familiar with the matter.

 

The transactions involve the financing of apartments and luxury homes in New York and California using money from Mr. Manafort, as well as from other investors solicited by the son-in-law, Jeffrey Yohai, including the actor Dustin Hoffman and his son. F.B.I. agents have reviewed financial records related to Mr. Yohai, who has been accused in a lawsuit of defrauding investors, the sources said.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/23/us/politics/paul-manafort-jeffrey-yohai.html

[joecoolfrog]

9 hours ago, thehelmsman said:

Yet "they" gave Crooked Hillary time to destroy 30,000 emails and all her phones with hammers. Nothing biased here. Nope.

But but what about her , you sound like a 6 year old child whining about his baby sister being favoured by daddy.

[thehelmsman]

37 minutes ago, joecoolfrog said:

But but what about her , you sound like a 6 year old child whining about his baby sister being favoured by daddy.

And you sound as if you have "daddy" issues.

[dunroaming]

According to many of the posters on TV I never had a daddy at all 

[Thakkar]

A top lawyer for President Trump slammed the special counsel’s office over the FBI raid of former campaign manager Paul Manafort’s Virginia home, accusing investigators of committing a “gross abuse of the judicial process” for the sake of “shock value” – and employing tactics normally seen “in Russia not America.”  

 

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/08/10/trump-lawyer-slams-special-counsel-for-gross-abuse-in-manafort-raid-challenges-warrant.html

 

Let's just say it's not normal for a lawyer defending so forcefully a man he does NOT represent.

 

 

[Thakkar]

The same guy who told the cops to "rough them up" when arresting suspects.

 

 

[selftaopath]

I saw someone describing 45 as incurious. Great descriptor.... many other do apply however.

[mtls2005]

I like how Trump claims he doesn't know Manafort, and that he was only with the campaign for a brief period.

 

They've been friends for 30+ years, and Manafort owns a condo in Trump Tower.

 

 

[Thakkar]

Speaking of t.rump related financial crimes, 

For the one project where Trump's financial records are publicly available, the picture is of "extraordinary flimflammery"

 

 

 

 

As is usual with Maddaw, unnecessarily verbose, but worth the time so as to have a clear picture of how Trump operates.

 

And just to cleanse the Maddaw verbosity from your brain, a hilarious Colbert impression of Maddaw:

 

 

 

[joecoolfrog]

On Thursday, August 10, 2017 at 1:38 PM, thehelmsman said:

And you sound as if you have "daddy" issues.

If by ''daddy '' , you refer to the orange clown , then like the overwhelmingly sane majority of the human race I certainly do have issues.

[mtls2005]

Some speculate that Manafort leaked the details of the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower (Hilary, Dirt, Russia) as a message to 45 that he was unhappy with being defenestrated, and that he could take down Don Jr., and Jared.

 

Love seeing them turn on each other.

 

Rats, sinking ship.

[selftaopath]

22 hours ago, mtls2005 said:

I like how Trump claims he doesn't know Manafort, and that he was only with the campaign for a brief period.

 

They've been friends for 30+ years, and Manafort owns a condo in Trump Tower.

 

 

The world know 45 is a pathological LIAR. Anyone w/ a modicum of intelligence knows not to trust or basically listen to a liar - that rules out most Republicans. 

[Scott]

An off-topic post removed.   

[boomerangutang]

Why not a pre-dawn raid on Flynn?  ....because he's top brass?  Probably because he's already turned 'state's witness.'  Even so, Flynn is likely hiding items important to the case.  Similarly: both Kushners, both Trump sons, and a score of others close to the Dufus in Chief.

[iReason]

Paul Manafort is toast — the FBI raid was just the beginning

 

• "Mueller's team, for weeks, has been issuing subpoenas to global banks seeking transaction histories for accounts involving Manafort and his business interests."
• "Investigators are trying to use Manafort's business associates, including his son-in-law and a Ukrainian oligarch, in order to turn up the heat on the former Trump aide in an effort to extract more information out of him."
• "Federal prosecutors in New York have handed over the reins to Mueller's team on an investigation started earlier this year into money laundering allegations, where Manafort invested in New York real estate to clean up dirty money from Eastern Europe."

http://www.businessinsider.com/paul-manafort-is-toast-the-fbi-raid-was-just-the-beginning-2017-8

 

Just the beginning. 

[iReason]

Week 12: Putting the Squeeze on Paul Manafort

 

"According to news reports this week, the special counsel  has hoovered up practically every document, receipt, international bank transaction, tax record and perhaps grocery list connected to Manafort that pertains to the Russia investigation."

 

"The Mueller stash includes the tax and financial documents seized in a July 26 FBI raid of Manafort’s Alexandria, Virginia, condominium, news of which surfaced in the Washington Post this week."

 

"Mueller got a head start in his probe by inheriting a Manafort money-laundering investigation launched by former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara."

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/08/12/paul-manafort-mueller-probe-swamp-diary-215479

 

It has been said, that by squeezing Manafort and scrutinizing his paper trail, it fits a model perfectly to nail the occupier of the White House.