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Mueller Teams Up With New York AG in Manafort Probe

Robert Mueller / Getty Images
Robert Mueller / Getty Images
August 31, 2017

Special counsel Robert Mueller has teamed up with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on the investigation into Paul Manafort and his financial transactions.

Mueller is investigating Manafort as part of a probe into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Cooperation between Mueller's team and the attorney general is an indication that the probe into President Donald Trump's former campaign chair is intensifying, according to Politico.

The two teams have shared evidence and talked often in the last few weeks about the potential case, several people familiar with the matter said. They have collected evidence on Manafort's potential financial crimes, including money laundering, according to one individual familiar with the investigation.

Manafort has not been levied any charges to date, and has denied any wrongdoing.

"Nothing is imminent," one person familiar with the case said.

Manafort's spokesman did not return Politico's request for comment, and Mueller and the New York attorney general's office declined to comment on the matter as well.

The investigative teams have pressured Manafort to cooperate by approaching family members and former business partners, said people close to Trump's former adviser. The teams have subpoenaed firms and individuals with whom Manafort has worked.

News broke earlier this month that federal agents conducted a raid at Manafort's home on July 26, seizing documents and other items. Manafort's spokesman, Jason Maloni, said Manafort did not resist the search during the raid.

Trump has not indicated an intention to pardon Manafort or anyone else involved with the Russia investigation, but state and federal prosecutors think the prospect of a presidential pardon could affect Manafort's decision to cooperate with investigators.

Schneiderman has a contentious history with Trump after the attorney general prosecuted Trump University—later known as the Trump Entrepreneur Initiative—for fraudulent practices, bringing suit in 2013. During that time, Trump denied the charges and mocked Schneiderman on social media and TV, frequently calling him a "lightweight."

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/380503788840558593

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/522544210759909376

The attorney general won a $25 million settlement in November 2016. Trump claimed he settled "just to have the matter behind him."

Schneiderman is currently looking into some of Trump's business transactions, and intends to share the findings with Mueller's team, according to one source. Those inquiries are still in the preliminary stages.