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| Clinton campaign demands Trump ‘disclose pro-Russia ties’ | Clinton campaign demands Trump ‘disclose pro-Russia ties’ |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Donald Trump is under pressure from his rival, Hillary Clinton, to disclose all pro-Russia ties after the New York Times reported a Ukrainian ledger showed millions of dollars earmarked for his campaign chairman. | |
| The so-called “black ledger” apparently showed that the political party of former Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych designated $12.7m in cash payments to Paul Manafort between 2007 and 2012. Investigators for Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau say the money was part of an illegal “off-the-books” system of payment. | The so-called “black ledger” apparently showed that the political party of former Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych designated $12.7m in cash payments to Paul Manafort between 2007 and 2012. Investigators for Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau say the money was part of an illegal “off-the-books” system of payment. |
| Mr Manafort vehemently denied the allegations set forth by the Times, saying that there is no evidence to suggest he accepted such payments. | Mr Manafort vehemently denied the allegations set forth by the Times, saying that there is no evidence to suggest he accepted such payments. |
| Additionally, investigators found that Mr Manafort was a part of an $18m deal to sell a Ukrainian cable television assets, which prosecutors linked to offshore shell companies. Prosecutors are not focusing on Mr Manafort in this aspect of the investigation, but feel that he must have known the nature of the business. | Additionally, investigators found that Mr Manafort was a part of an $18m deal to sell a Ukrainian cable television assets, which prosecutors linked to offshore shell companies. Prosecutors are not focusing on Mr Manafort in this aspect of the investigation, but feel that he must have known the nature of the business. |
| “He understood what was happening in Ukraine,” Vitaliy Kasko, a former official with the general prosecutor’s office in Kiev, told the Times. “It would have to be clear to any reasonable person that the Yanukovych clan, when it came to power, was engaged in corruption.” | “He understood what was happening in Ukraine,” Vitaliy Kasko, a former official with the general prosecutor’s office in Kiev, told the Times. “It would have to be clear to any reasonable person that the Yanukovych clan, when it came to power, was engaged in corruption.” |
| Mr Kasko added that it was "impossible to imagine" somebody like Mr Manafort would think the financial dealings were legitimate. | Mr Kasko added that it was "impossible to imagine" somebody like Mr Manafort would think the financial dealings were legitimate. |
| “Once again, the New York Times has chosen to purposefully ignore facts and professional journalism to fit their political agenda, choosing to attack my character and reputation rather than present an honest report,” he said. “I have never received a single 'off-the-books cash payment' as falsely 'reported' by the New York Times, nor have I ever done work for the governments of Ukraine or Russia.” | “Once again, the New York Times has chosen to purposefully ignore facts and professional journalism to fit their political agenda, choosing to attack my character and reputation rather than present an honest report,” he said. “I have never received a single 'off-the-books cash payment' as falsely 'reported' by the New York Times, nor have I ever done work for the governments of Ukraine or Russia.” |
| “The suggestion that I accepted cash payments is unfounded, silly, and nonsensical.” | “The suggestion that I accepted cash payments is unfounded, silly, and nonsensical.” |
| Mr Manafort’s comments echo an earlier defence made by Mr Trump, when the newspaper published a report detailing troubles within the campaign, accusing it of fabricating stories to promote a pro-Clinton bias. | Mr Manafort’s comments echo an earlier defence made by Mr Trump, when the newspaper published a report detailing troubles within the campaign, accusing it of fabricating stories to promote a pro-Clinton bias. |
| But the report inflamed concerns from the Clinton campaign, especially given Mr Trump’s recent acknowledgement Russia’s military annexation of Crimea, as well as off-hand remarks made by the New York real estate tycoon suggesting Russian intelligence should hack his Democratic opponent. | But the report inflamed concerns from the Clinton campaign, especially given Mr Trump’s recent acknowledgement Russia’s military annexation of Crimea, as well as off-hand remarks made by the New York real estate tycoon suggesting Russian intelligence should hack his Democratic opponent. |
| “Donald Trump has a responsibility to disclose campaign chair Paul Manafort’s and all other campaign employees’ and advisers’ ties to Russian or pro-Kremlin entities,” said Clinton campaign chairman Robby Mook. | “Donald Trump has a responsibility to disclose campaign chair Paul Manafort’s and all other campaign employees’ and advisers’ ties to Russian or pro-Kremlin entities,” said Clinton campaign chairman Robby Mook. |
| Bothersome as those connections may be for Mr Mook and the Clinton campaign, Mr Manafort maintains that he simply did work as a “campaign professional” for an international campaign when he worked with Mr Yanukovych. | Bothersome as those connections may be for Mr Mook and the Clinton campaign, Mr Manafort maintains that he simply did work as a “campaign professional” for an international campaign when he worked with Mr Yanukovych. |
| Mr Manafort began his work as a consultant for the Party of Regions and Mr Yanukovych, first unofficially in 2004, then officially in 2006. | Mr Manafort began his work as a consultant for the Party of Regions and Mr Yanukovych, first unofficially in 2004, then officially in 2006. |
| “My work in Ukraine ceased following the country’s parliamentary elections in October 2014,” Mr Manafort said. | “My work in Ukraine ceased following the country’s parliamentary elections in October 2014,” Mr Manafort said. |
| Mr Yanukovych served as Ukraine president in 2010, but fled to Russia after the 2014 revolution, leaving behind him a trail of alleged corruption. | Mr Yanukovych served as Ukraine president in 2010, but fled to Russia after the 2014 revolution, leaving behind him a trail of alleged corruption. |