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The Living Force
Representative Duncan Hunter, Jr. (R-CA) and his wife, Margaret, were indicted by a federal grand jury in California Tuesday on charges they used $250,000 in campaign money for personal expenses.
22.08.2018 - GOP Congressman Duncan Hunter, Wife Indicted on Corruption Charges
GOP Congressman Duncan Hunter, Wife Indicted on Corruption Charges
The indictment also accuses the congressman of filing false campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission to disguise the spending, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The indictment alleges that Congressman Hunter and his wife repeatedly dipped into campaign coffers as if they were personal bank accounts, and falsified FEC campaign finance reports to cover their tracks," said US Attorney Adam Braverman. "Elected representatives should jealously guard the public's trust, not abuse their positions for personal gain. Today's indictment is a reminder that no one is above the law."
The Hunters are accused of having used the funds for, among other things, vacations to Italy and Hawaii and school tuition to more mundane things like video games and dental work. Hunter has attempted to refute the accusations by saying he didn't handle the campaign credit card.
In lieu of a statement to AP, a representative for Hunter sent a copy of a letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in which Hunter's attorney, Gregory A. Vega, called the indictment process politically motivated.
They are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday at 10:30 a.m. local time on charges of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, wire fraud, falsification of records and prohibited use of campaign contributions.
Hunter was the second sitting congressman to endorse US President Donald Trump during the 2016 election campaign.
21.08.2018 - Former Trump Campaign Manager Manafort Found Guilty of Tax Fraud, Bank Fraud
Former Trump Campaign Manager Manafort Found Guilty of Tax Fraud, Bank Fraud
Among the charges he was found guilty of are five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failing to disclose foreign bank accounts. The jury said in a note it had not reached consensus on the other 10 counts, and the judge declared a mistrial on those counts.
Judge Thomas S. Ellis III excused the jury after the verdict and encouraged members not to talk to the press but did not bar them from doing so, saying, "I suggest to you that you have a duty of confidentiality."
The first trial of Paul Manafort, briefly the manager of US President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign, went on for four weeks and the jury deliberated for four days. The trial at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, is the first stemming from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russia's supposed role in the 2016 US election. In this case, Mueller's probe turned up evidence of financial crimes, but no connection to Russia, or to the Trump campaign.
Prosecutors argued that Manafort hid money in foreign bank accounts and failed to claim it on his taxes. They also argued that he obtained $20 million in falsified bank loans. All 27 witnesses during the trial were for the prosecution — Manafort's defense team called none.
The jury found that Manafort stashed $15 million in secret foreign bank accounts, many of them based in Cyprus, to hide money he received while working for then-Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych.
During their four days of deliberations, the jury asked Judge Ellis for several clarifications, including the definition of the term "reasonable doubt," as they were required to find guilt beyond reasonable doubt in order to convict Manafort. Other questions included clarification of the requirements for US citizens to report financial interests in foreign bank accounts and what a shell company is, since Manafort allegedly used such an entity to accept payments and move money into secret bank accounts.
Manafort faces up to 305 years in prison. The charges he has been found guilty of so far carry steep sentences. Each of five counts of subscribing to a false income tax return carries a maximum of three years in federal prison; the count of failing to report a foreign bank account carries a five-year maximum sentence; and each of his two counts of bank fraud carries a maximum of 30 years behind bars.
The 10 counts remaining include two counts of bank fraud, all five counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and three counts of failing to report foreign bank accounts.
Judge Ellis has not yet set a sentencing date and has given prosecutors until August 29 to decide whether to retry Manafort on the deadlocked charges.
US Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) told Reuters Tuesday that any attempt by Trump to pardon Manafort "would be a gross abuse of power" and would require an immediate congressional response. Burr heads the Senates Intelligence Committee.
Manafort's attorney, Kevin Downing, told the press outside the courthouse Tuesday that his client thanks Judge Ellis for a fair trial and the jury for their thoughtful deliberation. He noted that Manafort is "reviewing all options" and that they were disappointed not to get a hung jury on all counts.
Regardless of the outcome of the remainder of this trial, Manafort faces a second trial in Washington, DC, next month, focused on allegations of lying to the FBI, money laundering and foreign lobbying. Mueller's office has supplied prosecutors with more than double the amount of evidence as the first trial — over 1,000 exhibits, compared to 400 displayed in the Virginia case — according to a court filing Thursday.
21.08.2018 - Trump Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Implicates President in Campaign Violations
Trump Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Implicates President in Campaign Violations
US President Donald Trump's former longtime lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty Tuesday to eight charges which included tax fraud and making false statements.
Counts one through five are for tax evasion on some $4.3 million worth of income; count six, false statement to financial institution; count seven, willful cause of unlawful corporate contribution; and count eight, excessive campaign contribution. Reuters reported that the plea bargain includes a prison sentence of up to five years and three months, however, without a plea bargain Cohen could've faced up to 65 years.
The former longtime lawyer of Trump said in court that at the direction of the "candidate for federal office" he arranged payments "for principal purpose of influencing election." Cohen's excessive campaign contribution was said to have taken place on October 27, 2016, which line up with hush payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal, Deputy US Attorney Robert Khuzami said following the announcement. Both Daniels and McDougal were paid $130,000 and $150,000, respectively, in exchange for keeping quiet on their sexual relationships with Trump.
"He worked to pay money to silence two women who had information that he believed would be detrimental to the 2016 campaign and the candidate in the campaign," Khuzami told reporters, explaining that Cohen sought his reimbursements by submitting false invoices. "These are very serious charges and reflect a pattern of lies and dishonesty over a long period of time."
Cohen is free pending his sentencing. The 51-year-old lawyer pleaded guilty hours after news broke that he would be entering into a plea deal with federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York on Tuesday.
Cohen was reportedly under investigation for a several charges including tax fraud and other banking-related crimes. According to the New York Times, federal investigators were looking into more than $20 million in loans obtained by a taxi business owned by Cohen and his family. Officials investigated hush payments Cohen had arranged with women who allegedly had sexual encounters with Trump.
Per ABC News, information from Cohen could be beneficial to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and any collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian actors. However, it is still unclear whether Cohen will cooperate.
Images showing barricades being posted near the Manhattan federal court surfaced online ahead of reports of Cohen's plea deal.
22.08.2018 - GOP Congressman Duncan Hunter, Wife Indicted on Corruption Charges
GOP Congressman Duncan Hunter, Wife Indicted on Corruption Charges
The indictment also accuses the congressman of filing false campaign finance reports with the Federal Election Commission to disguise the spending, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The indictment alleges that Congressman Hunter and his wife repeatedly dipped into campaign coffers as if they were personal bank accounts, and falsified FEC campaign finance reports to cover their tracks," said US Attorney Adam Braverman. "Elected representatives should jealously guard the public's trust, not abuse their positions for personal gain. Today's indictment is a reminder that no one is above the law."
The Hunters are accused of having used the funds for, among other things, vacations to Italy and Hawaii and school tuition to more mundane things like video games and dental work. Hunter has attempted to refute the accusations by saying he didn't handle the campaign credit card.
In lieu of a statement to AP, a representative for Hunter sent a copy of a letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in which Hunter's attorney, Gregory A. Vega, called the indictment process politically motivated.
They are scheduled to be arraigned Thursday at 10:30 a.m. local time on charges of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, wire fraud, falsification of records and prohibited use of campaign contributions.
Hunter was the second sitting congressman to endorse US President Donald Trump during the 2016 election campaign.
21.08.2018 - Former Trump Campaign Manager Manafort Found Guilty of Tax Fraud, Bank Fraud
Former Trump Campaign Manager Manafort Found Guilty of Tax Fraud, Bank Fraud
Among the charges he was found guilty of are five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failing to disclose foreign bank accounts. The jury said in a note it had not reached consensus on the other 10 counts, and the judge declared a mistrial on those counts.
Judge Thomas S. Ellis III excused the jury after the verdict and encouraged members not to talk to the press but did not bar them from doing so, saying, "I suggest to you that you have a duty of confidentiality."
The first trial of Paul Manafort, briefly the manager of US President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign, went on for four weeks and the jury deliberated for four days. The trial at the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia, is the first stemming from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russia's supposed role in the 2016 US election. In this case, Mueller's probe turned up evidence of financial crimes, but no connection to Russia, or to the Trump campaign.
Prosecutors argued that Manafort hid money in foreign bank accounts and failed to claim it on his taxes. They also argued that he obtained $20 million in falsified bank loans. All 27 witnesses during the trial were for the prosecution — Manafort's defense team called none.
The jury found that Manafort stashed $15 million in secret foreign bank accounts, many of them based in Cyprus, to hide money he received while working for then-Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych.
During their four days of deliberations, the jury asked Judge Ellis for several clarifications, including the definition of the term "reasonable doubt," as they were required to find guilt beyond reasonable doubt in order to convict Manafort. Other questions included clarification of the requirements for US citizens to report financial interests in foreign bank accounts and what a shell company is, since Manafort allegedly used such an entity to accept payments and move money into secret bank accounts.
Manafort faces up to 305 years in prison. The charges he has been found guilty of so far carry steep sentences. Each of five counts of subscribing to a false income tax return carries a maximum of three years in federal prison; the count of failing to report a foreign bank account carries a five-year maximum sentence; and each of his two counts of bank fraud carries a maximum of 30 years behind bars.
The 10 counts remaining include two counts of bank fraud, all five counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and three counts of failing to report foreign bank accounts.
Judge Ellis has not yet set a sentencing date and has given prosecutors until August 29 to decide whether to retry Manafort on the deadlocked charges.
US Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) told Reuters Tuesday that any attempt by Trump to pardon Manafort "would be a gross abuse of power" and would require an immediate congressional response. Burr heads the Senates Intelligence Committee.
Manafort's attorney, Kevin Downing, told the press outside the courthouse Tuesday that his client thanks Judge Ellis for a fair trial and the jury for their thoughtful deliberation. He noted that Manafort is "reviewing all options" and that they were disappointed not to get a hung jury on all counts.
Regardless of the outcome of the remainder of this trial, Manafort faces a second trial in Washington, DC, next month, focused on allegations of lying to the FBI, money laundering and foreign lobbying. Mueller's office has supplied prosecutors with more than double the amount of evidence as the first trial — over 1,000 exhibits, compared to 400 displayed in the Virginia case — according to a court filing Thursday.
21.08.2018 - Trump Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Implicates President in Campaign Violations
Trump Lawyer Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Implicates President in Campaign Violations
US President Donald Trump's former longtime lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty Tuesday to eight charges which included tax fraud and making false statements.
Counts one through five are for tax evasion on some $4.3 million worth of income; count six, false statement to financial institution; count seven, willful cause of unlawful corporate contribution; and count eight, excessive campaign contribution. Reuters reported that the plea bargain includes a prison sentence of up to five years and three months, however, without a plea bargain Cohen could've faced up to 65 years.
The former longtime lawyer of Trump said in court that at the direction of the "candidate for federal office" he arranged payments "for principal purpose of influencing election." Cohen's excessive campaign contribution was said to have taken place on October 27, 2016, which line up with hush payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal, Deputy US Attorney Robert Khuzami said following the announcement. Both Daniels and McDougal were paid $130,000 and $150,000, respectively, in exchange for keeping quiet on their sexual relationships with Trump.
"He worked to pay money to silence two women who had information that he believed would be detrimental to the 2016 campaign and the candidate in the campaign," Khuzami told reporters, explaining that Cohen sought his reimbursements by submitting false invoices. "These are very serious charges and reflect a pattern of lies and dishonesty over a long period of time."
Cohen is free pending his sentencing. The 51-year-old lawyer pleaded guilty hours after news broke that he would be entering into a plea deal with federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York on Tuesday.
Cohen was reportedly under investigation for a several charges including tax fraud and other banking-related crimes. According to the New York Times, federal investigators were looking into more than $20 million in loans obtained by a taxi business owned by Cohen and his family. Officials investigated hush payments Cohen had arranged with women who allegedly had sexual encounters with Trump.
Per ABC News, information from Cohen could be beneficial to special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and any collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian actors. However, it is still unclear whether Cohen will cooperate.
Images showing barricades being posted near the Manhattan federal court surfaced online ahead of reports of Cohen's plea deal.
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