Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe: Where it stands

Washington, United States | AFP | Longtime Donald Trump advisor Roger Stone is the 34th person indicted by Special Counsel Robert Mueller as part of the investigation of possible ties between the US president’s election campaign and Russia.

The ongoing probe by the former FBI director has led to six guilty pleas by Trump associates but so far no charges of outright collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow.

Stone, 66, a veteran Republican operative, was arrested at his Florida home by FBI agents on Friday on charges of making false statements to Congress and witness tampering.

The six Trump associates who have pleaded guilty so far are:

– Paul Manafort –

Manafort, 69, a veteran Republican political consultant, was Trump’s campaign chairman for several months in 2016. He is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to tax and bank fraud connected to his work for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine.

– Michael Flynn –

Flynn, 60, a retired US Army general, is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with the Russian ambassador in Washington. Flynn stepped down as Trump’s National Security Advisor after just three weeks on the job.

– Michael Cohen –

Cohen, 52, Trump’s longtime personal attorney and fixer, was sentenced to three years in prison in December after pleading guilty to tax evasion, violating campaign finance laws, making false statements to Congress and other crimes. He is to report to prison on March 6.

– Rick Gates –

Gates, 46, Manafort’s business partner, served as Trump’s deputy campaign manager. He pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and financial fraud and testified against Manafort at his trial after reaching a plea deal.

– George Papadopoulos –

Papdopoulos, 31, is an oil industry analyst who served on Trump’s foreign policy advisory team and tried to set up meetings with Russian officials. He was sentenced to two weeks in prison after admitting he lied to the FBI.

– Other indictments –

Others indicted by Mueller include Alex Van Der Zwaan, a Dutch lawyer who got 30 days in prison for lying about his work with Manafort, and Richard Pinedo, a California man who admitted to selling stolen bank and credit card numbers to the Russians.

In June 2018, Konstantin Kilimnik, who worked with Manafort in Ukraine and allegedly has ties to Russian intelligence, was charged with obstruction of justice.

– Russians charged –

Mueller has also charged 12 Russian intelligence officers with hacking Democratic Party emails and 13 other Russians with engaging in an online campaign to influence US voters in the 2016 election.