The Indian American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi was responding to Special counsel Robert Mueller’s criminal charges against Paul Manafort and Rick Gates on Monday.
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) said on Monday that the 12-count indictment is only the beginning of the investigation and that a lot more will unravel during Justice Department’s special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigations.
“Today we learned that the first charges of Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation have been filed against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his business associate Rick Gates,” Krishnamoorthy said in a press statement. “The charges in the 12-count indictment include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, tax evasion, and failing to register their actions on behalf of foreign clients. While these charges are extremely serious, they are likely only the beginning of those Special Counsel Mueller will file as his full investigation into Russian interference in our democracy continues.”
The charges against Manafort and Gates lists several crimes including “failing to register as lobbying agents of a foreign government, laundering millions of dollars in payments from those lobbying efforts through unreported offshore accounts, using that money in a property loan scheme to defraud banks, and lying to federal investigators in attempt to cover up the schemes,” Slate reported.
Amid allegations that Russia had played a role in Trump’s victory in the 2016 presidential race, the federal court on Monday indicted Trump’s former aide and one-time campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and Manafort business partner Rick Gates. Both Manafort and Gates pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Krishnamoorthi said he inquired from the IRS officials whether anyone has not cooperated with the investigations. He added that various agencies of the administration should work independently with the investigating team.
“Last week, at an Oversight Committee hearing, I questioned the Deputy Commissioner for Operations Support at the IRS if any political appointee – at any agency – had exerted pressure on the IRS to not cooperate with Mueller’s probe. Given that one of the charges against Manafort is tax evasion, this only underscores the importance of all federal agencies having the independence to work with Mueller’s team,” Krishnamoorthi said. “As more facts, and likely more charges come to light, the search for answers must continue and the President must allow the Mueller investigation to continue unimpeded and unhindered.”
Monday’s indictment is the first time that a link between Russia’s influence and the 2016 presidential election is established. While dismissing the connection between Russian interference in the elections, Trump tweeted, “Sorry, but this is years ago, before Paul Manafort was part of the Trump campaign. But why aren’t Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus?????”
Sorry, but this is years ago, before Paul Manafort was part of the Trump campaign. But why aren't Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus?????
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 30, 2017
….Also, there is NO COLLUSION!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 30, 2017