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By: Grant Goetcheus
Twitter: @goetcheusg
Email: goetcheusg@Findlay.edu
Since the current President of the United States Donald J. Trump announced to run for office on June 16, 2015, there have been allegations of him being tied to Russia. The allegations claim that this connection aided in his winning the election and putting him in the oval office.
These allegations have since turned into official investigations and evidence has been brought forth to the FBI and Congressional Committee. The investigation has been ongoing since 2015.
According to CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper, the connections made in this investigation start with Russian hackers breaking into Democratic National Committee emails in July 2015 and March 2016. Then on March 19, 2016, Clinton Campaign Chairman John Podesta’s email is hacked.
Later in April 2016, George Papadopoulos, who served as a foreign policy advisor during Trump’s campaign, is contacted by a Russian Professor who has ties to the Kremlin; they state they have information on Clinton. In May, there is a request from Russia to meet with Trump. While on June 3rd, 2016 Trump Jr. is told that Russian officials want to turn over the information they have on Clinton.
On June 9 of that year, Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort meet with Russians in the Trump Tower. They are quoted saying, “Nothing is presented to them in the terms of incriminating information about Hillary Clinton.” From mid-June to mid-August, Papadopoulos tries to set meetings between Russian and Trump Campaign officials. On July 7, Manafort offers private briefings to a friend of Putin.
The case has progressed as allegations for this investigation have been present since 2017. The most recent actions of the investigation include, according to the Los Angeles Times, Paul Manafort and his political aide, Richard W. Gates III, being arraigned on Monday, Oct. 30.
The men were charged in federal court on a dozen charges of fraudulence, conspiracy and money laundering in an alleged scheme to conceal more than $75 million overseas without paying taxes. In addition, George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to lying to FBI agents.
Manafort and Gates III both await trial to see what time they will serve. When Papadopoulos pleaded guilty, he admitted to meeting with an un-named professor in London who had the classified information on Clinton. This plea deal means that Papadopoulos may only sever less than six months in jail for his actions.
