Very heavy accusations those contested by Special Attorney Robert Mueller against Paul Manafort, the first illustrious victim of the Russiagate investigation, on the ties between Donald Trump's entourage and Moscow, increasingly less presumed.
For the 12 indictments, the most serious of which concern conspiracy against the United States, money laundering and false testimony, Manafort, in the event of conviction, is likely to be imprisoned up to 80 years, plus a millionaire fine .
The suspect, before the indictment against him was made public, had presented himself yesterday morning at the FBI offices in Washington DC and a few hours later he had appeared before a federal judge, in front of whom he had declared not guilty of all charges made against him. The prosecutors, after asking for a $ 10 million bail, granted both him and his former partner Rick Gates house arrest and at the same time withdrew their passports.
Although the likelihood of an impeachment remains far behind, Washington trembles in front of a scandal that appears only at the beginning and in the very week that President Trump announces the appointment of the next FED chief.
The official White House reaction comes to mind: "Nothing to do with the president, the presidency, and the electoral campaign."
But what are the formal charges against Manafort?
In addition to the conspiracy against the United States of America, he is accused of failing to register as an agent of a foreign state, making false and misleading statements, laundering and failing to report accounts on foreign banks. Over $ 75 million has passed into his offshore accounts, as well as those of former partner Rick Gates, and he would have laundered over 18 million. Attorney, lobbyist for controversial foreign leaders and Russian clients, as well as political advisor to various presidents including Ford, Reagan, and George HW Bush.
Who is Manafort?
He was head of Trump's election campaign until August 2016 when he was forced to resign because of revelations over long-time activities in favor of Viktor Ianukovich, the Ukrainian president who was deposed from the Maidan Revolution. The fee paid by Ianukovich to Manafort and former Gates partner would have been hidden by the two at the US Taxes and in this regard it seems that the two have tried to recycle the huge sums they earned.
Gates, on the other hand, is a lobbyist and political advisor, who became Manafort's partner in the mid-2000s and his vice-president in the campaign for Trump.
But in this story there is also a third element which, despite having an "extremely limited" role, had collaborated with the two subjects at home arrests. It is George Papadopoulou who, as far as he is concerned, has only been arrested at the end of July as he was accused of making false testimony to the FBI, hiding in the course of the investigation the repeated contacts with representatives of the Russian government, Papadopolous, unlike Manafort and Gates, pleaded guilty and began collaborating with Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller.
Here, just Robert Muller, quoted several times, and central figure of the Russiagate inquiry. Who is the Special Prosecutor who is investigating Russia?
Robert Muller is a New York lawyer, has 73 years and is considered a very serious and respected person in the United States. Suffice to think that he was appointed FBI chief by Republican George W. Bush in 2001 and was extended for another two years after the ten-year mandate of Muller, Democrat Barack Obama. Muller has been investigating since President Trump raised the FBI chief, James Comey accused by the Congress of wanting to abolish investigations into the Russiagate.
Robert Muller is investigating the whole field and there are no limitations in other areas that are currently unpredictable, but we say that with regard to the Russiagate, we are looking at three main aspects:
- The possible interference of Russia in the 2016 presidential elections manifested through cyber attacks and the theft of a frighteningly large amount of data and emails, in addition to the online dissemination of false news and the attempted cyber attacks against US voting systems;
- the collaboration achieved or even simply attempted with Russia by representatives of Donald Trump's electoral committee;
- the possibility that Donald Trump has tried to obstruct the investigation: first by trying to appease James Comey, then also fired by the growing pressure from Congress and the press as head of the FBI and to ascertain that no attempt has been made to direct and influence the investigation through public and private pressure.
What happened yesterday appears to be just the beginning of an investigation that if it confirms the responsibilities of the characters involved, will cause a real earthquake on the part of the White House, and in this sense the role that will be involved in the investigation of the three arrested individuals, will definitely be crucial.
GB
Photo: rainews