Giuliani associates were arrested before a planned one-way flight out of the U.S., prosecutors say
![Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/o4Rpa8FpNKc9uv6rHqVL9e-415-80.jpg)
The two associates of Rudy Giuliani arrested on campaign finance charges were reportedly getting ready to leave the country.
Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, Giuliani associates who reportedly helped in his effort to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, were arrested Wednesday, and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Geoffrey Berman on Thursday announced they've been indicted on campaign finance charges for allegedly "[breaking] the law to gain political influence while avoiding disclosure of who was actually making the donations and where the money was coming from."
The two men were arrested at about 6 p.m. at Dulles Airport, Berman told reporters, "as they were about to board an international flight with one-way tickets." Giuliani told The Wall Street Journal they were traveling to Vienna for business reasons that he didn't specify; the Journal reports Parnas and Fruman had lunch with Giuliani the same day as their arrest.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
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.
Prosecutors say Parnas and Fruman contributed $325,000 to "committee-1," America First Action, through a corporation set up to disguise that the money was coming from them. They also allegedly contributed over $20,000 to "congressman-1," reported to be former Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas), with America First Action also donating to to the Republican congressman. Parnas and Fruman were, on behalf of a Ukrainian government official, lobbying for the removal of the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, in meetings with Sessions, prosecutors said.
This comes as Trump is facing an impeachment inquiry sparked by his call with Ukraine during which he pushed for an investigation into Biden and recommend the Ukrainian president speak with his personal lawyer, Giuliani. House Democrats have now issued a subpoena for Parnas and Fruman, who had depositions scheduled for this week, CNN reports. The Washington Post reports prosecutors said in court Thursday they're concerned Parnas and Fruman are flight risks.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Ukraine's Olympians: going for gold in the line of fire
Under the Radar Hundreds of the country's athletes have died in battle, while those who remain deal with the psychological toll of war and prospect of Russian competitors
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Democrats now have a chance to present a vigorous, compelling case'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?
In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Trump criminal trial starts with rulings, reminder
Speed Read The first day of his historic trial over hush money payments was mostly focused on jury selection
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Parents of school shooter sentenced to 10-15 years
Speed Read Jennifer and James Crumbley are the first parents to be convicted in a US mass shooting
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Unlicensed dealers and black market guns
Speed Read 68,000 illegally trafficked guns were sold in a five year period, said ATF
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bankman-Fried gets 25 years for fraud
Speed Read Former "crypto king" Sam Bankman-Fried will report to federal prison
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Goon Squad' cops sentenced for torturing 2 Black men
Speed Read The former Mississippi law enforcement officers pleaded guilty last year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Michigan shooter's dad guilty of manslaughter
speed read James Crumbley failed to prevent his son from killing four students at Oxford High School in 2021
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Shooting at Chiefs victory rally kills 1, injures 21
Speed Read Gunfire broke out at the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl victory parade in Missouri
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published