Special Counsel Robert Mueller filed new bank and tax fraud charges against former Trump advisors Rick Gates and Paul Manafort in a 32-count indictment revealed Thursday.
The new indictment, filed in the Eastern District of Virginia, details a joint Gates-Manafort real estate money laundering scheme going back to 2008.
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“Manafort, with the assistance of Gates, laundered more than $30,000,000, income that he concealed from the United States Department of the Treasury (Treasury), the Department of Justice, and others,” the new indictment reads. “Gates obtained more than $3,000,000 from the offshore accounts, income that he too concealed from the Treasury, the Department of Justice, and others.”
According to the indictment, Manafort, aided by Gates, lied on his tax forms about having any foreign bank accounts for at least a six year-period detailed in the filing. The indictment also details a series of mortgages and properties Manafort obtained by lying about the source of his money or the purpose of his business. In one instance, the indictment alleges, Manafort obtained a mortgage on a Manhattan condo by pretending his son-in-law was living there. Manafort later emailed his son-in-law to remind him that a visiting bank appraiser “believes that you [and MANAFORT’s daughter] are living there,” the indictment reads.
“Paul Manafort is innocent of the allegations set out in the newly filed indictments, and he is confident that he will be acquitted of all charges. The new allegations against Mr. Manafort, once again, have nothing to do with Russia and 2016 election interference/collusion,” attorney Jason Maloni said on behalf of Manafort. “Mr. Manafort is confident that he will be acquitted and violations of his constitutional rights will be remedied.”
The Daily Beast reports Gates has fired his lawyer, who was reportedly pursuing a plea deal on his behalf, and will not be pleading guilty and cooperating with Mueller, contrary to earlier reports.
