Who is Paul Manafort? What has Donald Trump's ex-campaign manager been charged with in Russia probe?

Probe: Paul Manafort
AP
Fiona Simpson30 October 2017

Donald Trump’s former presidential campaign manager Paul Manafort has been charged with conspiring to defraud America in his dealings with the Ukraine.

Twelve charges have been brought against Mr Manafort and one of his business associates Rick Gates.

The business partners have both denied all charges against them.

But, who is Mr Manafort and why is he caught up in this controversy?

Here's what you need to know.

Who is Paul Manafort?

He was a key player in Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign.

Donald Trump pictured here with his former campaign manager Paul Manafort and daughter Ivanka Trump
Getty Images

Mr Manafort took over as campaign manager after Corey Lewandowski was fired in June last year.

However, he resigned from his position on the campaign just two months later after being accused of receiving millions of pounds from pro-Russian politicians in the Ukraine.

The 68-year-old is a staunch Republican lobbyist and has supported campaigns dating back to Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan.

Paul Manafort (L) covers his face as he leaves his home in a SUV from the parking garage
EPA

In 1980 he founded the consulting firm of Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly.

Mr Manafort is charged alongside business partner Mr Gates who was made his deputy during Mr Trump’s election campaign.

What are the men accused of?

The men are accused of charges relating to their work with Ukrainian politicians between 2005 and 2016.

They are accused of conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money and acting as unregistered agents of Ukraine's government.

Other counts include making false and misleading statements and failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts.

Mr Manafort is accused of what prosecutors said was a scheme to hide tens of millions of dollars made in the Ukraine from tax collectors and the public.

The authorities said he laundered more than $18 million.

Mr Gates was a long-time business partner of Mr Manafort and has ties to many of the same Russian and Ukrainian oligarchs.

He is accused of transferring more than $3 million from offshore accounts.

Denying links: Donald Trump 
REUTERS

Mr Manafort was indicted on nine counts and Gates was indicted on eight counts.

Do the charges relate to the Trump campaign?

The charges are not thought to be related to Manafort and Gates’ work on the Trump campaign but to their dealings in the Ukraine between 2005 and 2016.

An adviser to Mr Trump said: "It had nothing to do with their tenure at the campaign as far as I can tell.”

Why are they being investigated now?

Investigated: Paul Manafort
AP

The charges are now being investigated as part of a special counsel probe into Russian links with Trump's election campaign

The 12-count indictment was the first from the investigation by Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller into alleged Russian meddling to try to tilt the vote in Mr Trump's favour.

Mr Manafort handed himself to the FBI on Monday morning.

What happens if the men are found guilty?

Conspiracy to commit money laundering alone carries a prison sentence of 20 years so if the men are found guilty they could face a long jail term.

What has Donald Trump said?

The US president has denied links with the probe and said in a tweet on Monday morning: “Sorry, but this is years ago, before Paul Manafort was part of the Trump campaign. But why aren't Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus?????”

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