US Russia probe: Donald Trump’s ex-adviser Paul Manafort indicted
Former election campaign manager accused of 12 counts including conspiracy and laundering $18m

Donald Trump’s former election manager Paul Manafort was indicted today on criminal charges including conspiracy against the US and money laundering - a development described as a “significant” escalation of the FBI’s probe into alleged Russian influence in the 2016 presidential campaign.
The indictment against Manafort, 68, and a business and campaign associate, Rick Gates, 45, involves a total of 12 counts. The other charges comprise acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign principal, making false statements, making false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, and “seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts,” CNN says.
The broadcaster also posted a copy of the unsealed indictment.
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.
Robert S. Mueller, the special counsel leading the Russia inquiry, accuses Manafort of laundering more than $18m (£13.7m) to buy properties, goods and services, The New York Times says.
“Manafort used his hidden overseas wealth to enjoy a lavish lifestyle in the United States without paying taxes on that income,” the indictment reads, according to the newspaper.
Gates, meanwhile, is accused of transferring more than $3m (£2.3m) from offshore accounts.
“As part of the scheme, Manafort and Gates repeatedly provided false information to financial bookkeepers, tax accountants and legal counsel, among others,” the indictment says.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
CNN says the charges mark a “dramatic new phase of Mueller’s wide-ranging investigation into possible collusion between the Russian government and members of Trump’s team as well as potential obstruction of justice and financial crimes”.
The New York Times claims the charges are “a significant escalation in a special counsel investigation that has cast a shadow over President Trump’s first year in office”.
“With money laundering charges against Paul Manafort, Trump’s ‘fake news’ claim is harder to defend,” The Washington Post adds.
But Erick Erickson of Fox News points out that while many on the political Left are cheering about the indictments, the problem “is that it appears increasingly likely that Manafort’s indictment has nothing to do with the Trump campaign”.
A White House spokesman told CNN that the Trump administration “may not have a response at all” regarding the charges. Hillary Clinton also had no immediate comment, says the broadcaster.
In a separate development, George Papadopoulos, a former Trump foreign policy adviser, admitted he worked with representatives of the Russian government during the election campaign, Bloomberg’s Tom Schoenberg reports today. Papadopoulos, who suggested that Trump meet with top Russian leaders during his campaign, pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI.
-
A little-visited Indian Ocean archipelago
The Week Recommends The paradise of the Union of the Comoros features beautiful beaches, colourful coral reefs and lush forests
-
AI: is the bubble about to burst?
In the Spotlight Stock market ever-more reliant on tech stocks whose value relies on assumptions of continued growth and easy financing
-
Crossword: October 19, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
‘The illusion of wealth can encourage people to take on more debt’
instant opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump says he authorized covert CIA ops in Venezuela
Speed Read He is also considering military strikes inside the country
-
Are inflatable costumes and naked bike rides helping or hurting ICE protests?
Talking Points Trump administration efforts to portray Portland and Chicago as dystopian war zones have been met with dancing frogs, bare butts and a growing movement to mock MAGA doomsaying
-
‘Are we just going to stand in passive witness to the degradation of our democracy?’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Venezuela: Does Trump want war?
Feature Donald Trump has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a drug cartel and waging a narco-terrorism campaign against the United States
-
Two years on, a Gaza truce may be in sight
Feature Israel and Hamas consider the U.S.’ 20-point peace plan exchanging hostages for prisoners