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Trump donors plead not guilty to campaign finance fraud | Trump donors plead not guilty to campaign finance fraud |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Two Trump donors charged with campaign finance crimes have pleaded not guilty before a federal court. | Two Trump donors charged with campaign finance crimes have pleaded not guilty before a federal court. |
New York prosecutors have accused Soviet-born businessmen Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman of conspiring to funnel foreign money to US candidates. | New York prosecutors have accused Soviet-born businessmen Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman of conspiring to funnel foreign money to US candidates. |
They are associates of President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and helped peddle debunked corruption claims against Trump rival Joe Biden. | They are associates of President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and helped peddle debunked corruption claims against Trump rival Joe Biden. |
The men were arrested attempting to leave the US earlier this month. | The men were arrested attempting to leave the US earlier this month. |
Both men are US citizens. Mr Parnas, 46, was born in Ukraine, Mr Fruman, 53, in Belarus. | Both men are US citizens. Mr Parnas, 46, was born in Ukraine, Mr Fruman, 53, in Belarus. |
Two other men, Andrey Kukushkin, a Ukrainian, and David Correia, a US citizen, were also charged in the same case, and both pleaded not guilty last week. | Two other men, Andrey Kukushkin, a Ukrainian, and David Correia, a US citizen, were also charged in the same case, and both pleaded not guilty last week. |
This is the first criminal case linked to a congressional investigation into claims that Mr Trump put political pressure on Ukraine, though neither the president nor Mr Giuliani are accused of wrongdoing in this indictment. | |
In a brief statement to reporters outside court on Wednesday, Mr Parnas said: "I look forward to defending myself vigorously in court and I am certain that, in time, the truth will be revealed and I will be vindicated." | In a brief statement to reporters outside court on Wednesday, Mr Parnas said: "I look forward to defending myself vigorously in court and I am certain that, in time, the truth will be revealed and I will be vindicated." |
Mr Giuliani in May referred to Mr Parnas and Mr Fruman as his clients. | Mr Giuliani in May referred to Mr Parnas and Mr Fruman as his clients. |
US media report they helped Mr Giuliani connect with Ukrainian prosecutors as he attempted to press Ukraine to investigate unsubstantiated corruption allegations against former Vice-President Mr Biden and his son, Hunter, who worked with a Ukrainian company. | US media report they helped Mr Giuliani connect with Ukrainian prosecutors as he attempted to press Ukraine to investigate unsubstantiated corruption allegations against former Vice-President Mr Biden and his son, Hunter, who worked with a Ukrainian company. |
Mr Parnas and Mr Fruman were arrested at Dulles International Airport in Virginia on 10 October, where they were to board a flight to Vienna, Austria. | Mr Parnas and Mr Fruman were arrested at Dulles International Airport in Virginia on 10 October, where they were to board a flight to Vienna, Austria. |
On Wednesday they were released after paying $1m (£776,0000) bonds and surrendering their passports. | |
Democratic lawmakers leading the impeachment inquiry against Mr Trump have demanded to interview Mr Parnas and Mr Fruman regarding their work with Mr Giuliani in Ukraine. | Democratic lawmakers leading the impeachment inquiry against Mr Trump have demanded to interview Mr Parnas and Mr Fruman regarding their work with Mr Giuliani in Ukraine. |
What are they accused of? | What are they accused of? |
The pair have been charged with conspiracy, lying and falsifying records. | The pair have been charged with conspiracy, lying and falsifying records. |
Prosecutors say they attempted to circumvent US finance laws barring foreign political donations through a money-laundering scheme. More than 50 bank accounts have been subpoenaed in the investigation. | Prosecutors say they attempted to circumvent US finance laws barring foreign political donations through a money-laundering scheme. More than 50 bank accounts have been subpoenaed in the investigation. |
They are also accused of setting up a bogus company to conceal the foreign sources of their funding. | They are also accused of setting up a bogus company to conceal the foreign sources of their funding. |
According to court documents, they illegally donated $325,000 in 2018 to a pro-Trump political action committee - believed to be referred to as "Committee-1" in the indictment - in the name of this company. | |
Together with this donation, Mr Parnas and Mr Fruman gave upwards of $400,000 to Republican campaigns in just a few months - contributions that allowed them to meet top Republicans, including Mr Trump. | Together with this donation, Mr Parnas and Mr Fruman gave upwards of $400,000 to Republican campaigns in just a few months - contributions that allowed them to meet top Republicans, including Mr Trump. |
In the complaint that sparked the Ukraine inquiry on Capitol Hill, a whistleblower noted concerns that Mr Trump was "using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country" in the upcoming presidential election. | In the complaint that sparked the Ukraine inquiry on Capitol Hill, a whistleblower noted concerns that Mr Trump was "using the power of his office to solicit interference from a foreign country" in the upcoming presidential election. |
The whistleblower report repeatedly mentioned Mr Giuliani's involvement in Ukraine - and his work with Mr Parnas and Mr Fruman, who are referred to as his "two associates". | The whistleblower report repeatedly mentioned Mr Giuliani's involvement in Ukraine - and his work with Mr Parnas and Mr Fruman, who are referred to as his "two associates". |
Mr Fruman and Mr Parnas also allegedly raised thousands of dollars in funds for an unnamed congressman to seek their assistance in removing the then-US ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch. | Mr Fruman and Mr Parnas also allegedly raised thousands of dollars in funds for an unnamed congressman to seek their assistance in removing the then-US ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch. |
This was allegedly done in part by "the request of one or more Ukrainian government officials". | This was allegedly done in part by "the request of one or more Ukrainian government officials". |
Ms Yovanovitch is one of several state department officials to have testified about the Ukraine matter before Congress as a part of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry. | Ms Yovanovitch is one of several state department officials to have testified about the Ukraine matter before Congress as a part of the Democratic-led impeachment inquiry. |
On Tuesday, the top US diplomat to Ukraine said relations between the two nations had been "fundamentally undermined... for domestic political reasons". | On Tuesday, the top US diplomat to Ukraine said relations between the two nations had been "fundamentally undermined... for domestic political reasons". |