31 August, 2017
Special Counsel Robert Mueller and New York's Attorney General Eric Schneiderman have teamed up in the ongoing investigation of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, according to a new report by Politico.
Mueller is investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian Federation, to which Trump has reportedly replied that he has "complete power to pardon" anyone from relatives and aides to himself.
"I think the promise of a future pardon for anyone who has been involved in any wrongdoing, and then the pardon of Joe Arpaio, which sends the message to them, 'don't worry...you don't have to cooperate", Wine-Banks explained.
Their cooperation is a sign of intensified probe into Donald Trump's former aide and could give Mueller leverage to pressure Manafort into working with him on the probe into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 USA election, according to the Politico.
A person who spoke with Politico said Mueller and Schneiderman's teams have reportedly collected evidence on potential money laundering against Manafort, among other possible financial crimes. The president has repeatedly called it a "witch hunt", has denied any collusion with Moscow and has been critical of Mueller.
In July, the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided Manafort's home after he willingly met with Senate Intelligence Committee staff, according to reports.
Mueller's team has been looking into Manafort's lobbying work and financial transactions, including real estate deals in NY.
Representatives for Mueller's office and the NY attorney general's office declined to comment to Politico.
