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Paul Manafort
Former Trump Campaign Chairman
Trump's 2016 campaign chairman convicted of tax fraud, bank fraud, and conspiracy related to his work for pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarchs, later pardoned by Trump
Overview
Paul John Manafort Jr. served as chairman of Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign from June to August 2016. For over a decade before, Manafort worked as a political consultant for pro-Russian Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and the Party of Regions, earning tens of millions of dollars that he hid in offshore accounts and failed to report to U.S. tax authorities. He laundered over $30 million through offshore entities, using the funds to purchase luxury goods, real estate, and fund his lifestyle. Manafort was convicted by a jury in Virginia on 8 counts of tax and bank fraud in August 2018. He subsequently pleaded guilty in D.C. to conspiracy charges and agreed to cooperate with Mueller's investigation, but was found to have lied to investigators and breached his plea agreement. He was sentenced to a combined 7.5 years in federal prison. Manafort shared internal Trump campaign polling data with Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian-Ukrainian political operative the Senate Intelligence Committee identified as a Russian intelligence officer. Trump pardoned Manafort in December 2020.
Key Affiliations
Controversies & Concerns
Convicted of tax fraud, bank fraud for hiding $30M+ from Ukrainian consulting work
Shared Trump campaign polling data with Russian intelligence-linked operative
Worked for pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarchs for over a decade
Lied to Mueller investigators after agreeing to cooperate; breached plea deal
Laundered tens of millions through offshore shell companies
Pardoned by Trump in December 2020
Related Investigations (17)
2016 Election InterferenceElection Security
Tier 2
criticalCybercrimes & Hacking EncouragementElection Interference
Tier 2
criticalForeign Agent Registration ViolationsForeign Influence
Tier 4
highKremlin Oligarch ConnectionsForeign Corruption
Tier 4
criticalMoney LaunderingFinancial Crime
Tier 1
criticalObstruction of JusticeIntelligence & Covert Operations
Tier 1
criticalPattern of Presidential MisconductAbuse of Power
Tier 3
criticalCorrupt PardonsFinancial Crime
Tier 1
highRussia Investigation OverviewForeign Interference
Tier 1
criticalRussian Election Interference 2016Election Interference
Tier 1
criticalRussian Election InterferenceElection Integrity
Tier 1
criticalTreason & Foreign CollusionNational Security
Tier 3
criticalTrump Tower Meeting (June 2016)Russia Connection
Tier 2
criticalTrump's Corrupt Pardon SpreeAbuse of Power
Tier 4
criticalTrump Campaign CrimesPolitical Corruption
Tier 1
criticalTrump-Russia InvestigationForeign Interference
Tier 1
criticalUkraine Influence & Foreign Agent NetworksForeign Influence
Tier 4
criticalCriminal Charges & Violations
4 documented violations
26 U.S.C. 7206(1)Tax fraud - filing false tax returns hiding $30M+ in foreign income (convicted)(federal)
18 U.S.C. 1014Bank fraud - obtaining loans through false financial statements (convicted)(federal)
18 U.S.C. 371Conspiracy against the United States (guilty plea)(federal)
22 U.S.C. 611Failure to register as foreign agent under FARA (guilty plea)(federal)
Known Associates & Connections
Donald Trump
President who appointed him campaign chairman and later pardoned him
Rick Gates
Business partner and co-defendant who flipped and testified against Manafort
Konstantin Kilimnik
Russian intelligence-linked operative who received campaign data
Sources & Documentation
1 documented sources from official records, investigations, and reports
Personal Information
- Born
- April 1, 1949
- Birthplace
- New Britain, Connecticut
Education
- •Georgetown University (B.S.)
- •Georgetown University Law Center (J.D.)
Key Timeline
2004-2016
Works as consultant for pro-Russian Ukrainian interests
2016-06-20
Named Trump campaign chairman
2016-08-19
Resigns from campaign amid Ukraine lobbying scrutiny
2017-10-30
Indicted by Special Counsel Mueller
2018-08-21
Convicted on 8 counts in Virginia
2018-09-14
Pleads guilty in D.C. to conspiracy charges
2019-03-13
Sentenced to combined 7.5 years in prison
2020-12-23
Pardoned by President Trump