Manafort, Flynn are reportedly the major figures in the FBI's criminal investigation of Russia ties


Paul Manafort, one of President Trump's campaign managers, and Michael Flynn, Trump's former national security adviser, have become primary figures in the FBI's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, several law enforcement officials told NBC News Wednesday.
Over the last six months, as part of the investigation into whether Trump associates colluded with Russians during the campaign, multiple grand jury subpoenas and records requests have been made in connection with Manafort and Flynn, the officials said. Investigators from the FBI, assisted by the CIA, Treasury Department, and other agencies, are specifically looking at evidence of potential business relationships, money transfers, and communication between the two camps. The documents that have been requested include records related to an unusual $3.5 million mortgage Manafort took out on one of his homes in New York directly after he left the Trump campaign.
Both Manafort and Flynn, whose attorneys have said they've done nothing wrong, are considered "subjects" of a criminal investigation, the officials said. On Wednesday, the Justice Department announced that former FBI Director Robert Mueller has been appointed as special counsel and will now oversee the investigation.
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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
June 29 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include the AI genie, Iran saving face, and bad language bombs
-
A tall ship adventure in the Mediterranean
The Week Recommends Sailing aboard this schooner and exploring Portugal, Spain and Monaco is a 'magical' experience
-
How drone warfare works
The Explainer From Ukraine to Iran, it has become clear that unmanned aircraft are rapidly revolutionising modern warfare
-
Weinstein convicted of sex crime in retrial
Speed Read The New York jury delivered a mixed and partial verdict at the disgraced Hollywood producer's retrial
-
'King of the Hill' actor shot dead outside home
speed read Jonathan Joss was fatally shot by a neighbor who was 'yelling violent homophobic slurs,' says his husband
-
DOJ, Boulder police outline attacker's confession
speed read Mohamed Sabry Soliman planned the attack for a year and 'wanted them all to die'
-
Assailant burns Jewish pedestrians in Boulder
speed read Eight people from the Jewish group were hospitalized after a man threw Molotov cocktails in a 'targeted act of violence'
-
Driver rams van into crowd at Liverpool FC parade
speed read 27 people were hospitalized following the attack
-
2 Israel Embassy staff shot dead at DC Jewish museum
speed read The suspected gunman chanted 'free, free Palestine'
-
Bombing of fertility clinic blamed on 'antinatalist'
speed read A car bombing injured four people and damaged a fertility clinic and nearby buildings in Palm Springs, California
-
Suspect charged after 11 die in Vancouver car attack
Speed Read Kai-Ji Adam Lo drove an SUV into a crowd at the Lapu Lapu Day festival