Rick Gates admits to ‘crimes’ committed with Paul Manafort
‘Star witness’ says former Trump campaign chairman was unregistered foreign agent
Rick Gates, the long-time business partner of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has testified in court that he helped Manafort commit a number of crimes while the pair worked together.
Manafort’s trial is the first to arise from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian inerference in the 2016 US presidential election.
Gates has reached a plea deal with prosecutors, which includes testifying against Manafort over his role in the alleged crimes.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Prosecutor Greg Andres reportedly wasted little time getting to the heart of his questioning of Gates. “Did you commit crimes with Mr Manafort?” Andres asked, to which Gates replied: “Yes.”
Taking the witness stand, Gates “admitted to helping Manafort doctor financial statements, hide foreign income and cheat on his taxes”, Reuters reports.
Gates’ testimony included that he had, under Manafort’s direction, hidden 15 foreign bank accounts from US authorities, even though the pair knew it was illegal to do so.
Gates also told the court that Manafort had been operating as an unregistered foreign agent while working as a lobbyist for former pro-Russian Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych.
The Washington Post reports that “even while he was committing crimes with his boss, he was also stealing from him”. Gates confessed to taking hundreds of thousands of dollars from Manafort and others over the years.
CNN says that admission by Gates will be central to Manafort’s defence strategy, with the former Trump campaign chairman’s legal team “arguing during opening statements that he embezzled millions of dollars from Manafort and then turned against him under pressure from Mueller”.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'The double standards don't trouble the critics'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - November 22, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - frozen assets, blazing fires, and more
By The Week US Published
-
How much of a blow is ICC arrest warrant for Netanyahu?
Today's Big Question Action by Hague court damages Israel's narrative that Gaza conflict is a war between 'good and evil'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published