Trump donors charged in campaign finance case
The two have been working with Mr Trump’s lawyer to discredit Democratic candidate Joe Biden. …
Image copyright Alexandria Sheriff’s Office Two Trump donors have been charged with violations of campaign finance laws, New York prosecutors say.
Soviet-born businessmen Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman conspired to “funnel foreign money to candidates for federal and state office”, say the charges.
The pair have been associated with US President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
They have been peddling unsubstantiated corruption claims against Democratic White House contender Joe Biden.
Both men are US citizens. Mr Parnas was born in Ukraine, Mr Fruman in Belarus.
They are expected to appear in federal court in Virginia on Thursday.
Two other men, Andrey Kukushkin, a Ukrainian, and David Correia, a US citizen, were also indicted in the same case on Thursday.
The Trump administration’s role in Ukraine is at the centre of an congressional impeachment inquiry.
Under US law, foreign nationals are prohibited from donating to elections to restrict foreign influence on the US government. Campaigns must also publicly report the sources and details of contributions made in federal elections.
Mr Parnas and Mr Fruman are accused of circumventing these laws through a money-laundering scheme.
They allegedly used an unnamed foreign national’s money to make political contributions in their own name, and lied to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
The men allegedly set up an energy company in Florida to conceal the sources of their funding.
They are also accused of falsely donating $325,000 (£264,000) to a pro-Trump political action committee in 2018 in the name of the company and claiming it was for company purposes.
The donation recipient is named as “Committee-1” in the indictment.
The same donation was flagged by a campaign finance watchdog.
When media began reporting about the Florida donation, one of Mr Parnas’ associates said “this is what happens when you become visible … the buzzards descend”, according to the indictment.
Mr Parnas responded: “That’s why we need to stay under the radar.”
Mr Fruman and Mr Parnas also allegedly raised thousands in funds for an unnamed congressman in order to seek their “assistance in causing the US government to remove or recall the then-US ambassador to Ukraine”.
This was allegedly done in part by “the request of one or more Ukrainian government officials”.
Their attorney, John Dowd, who previously represented Mr Trump, has not commented to US media.
Mr Parnas and Mr Fruman were expected to appear on Thursday and Friday before Democratic-led congressional committees investigating Mr Trump.
Lawmakers had been ready to issue Mr Parnas and Mr Fruman with legal summonses to compel them to show up.
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