By Matt Underwood President Trump’s allies and those within his circle have come under criminal scrutiny. Some have been convicted of committing crimes including bank and tax fraud, misusing charity funds, obstructing investigations, lying, witness tampering, campaign finance violations, and foreign lobbying violations. Here are 8 examples from the last four years:
- In 2019 the Trump Foundation was ordered to pay $2 million for misusing charity funds for personal use following an investigation.[1] The Trump Foundation dissolved following an investigation led by the New York Attorney General.[2] President Trump was ordered to pay $2 million for misusing charity funds.[3]
- In 2019 Trump campaign adviser and long time friend of President Trump – Roger Stone was convicted and sentenced to prison. Roger Stone was indicted by Special Counsel Mueller.[4] A jury found Stone guilty on all 7 counts including witness tampering, lying, and obstruction.[5] However, President Trump recently signed an Executive Grant of Clemency commuting his friend days before Stone was set to report to prison to begin serving his 3 year sentence.[6]
- In 2019 Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was convicted for committing several crimes. Manafort was sentenced to 47 months for bank and tax fraud.[7] Furthermore, Manafort was convicted on foreign lobbying and witness tampering charges carrying a combined prison sentence of 7 years.[8]
- In 2018 President Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen plead guilty to committing campaign finance violations at the direction of Trump.[9] Michael Cohen was sentenced to 3 years in prison.[10] The President’s former personal attorney implicated President Trump in crimes they committed together during the 2016 presidential campaign.[11]
- Former national security adviser Michael Flynn originally pleaded guilty to 1 charge of lying to the FBI, he was given a deal as long as he cooperated with investigators.[12] However, Attorney General Barr became personally involved in the case and in a surprise turn the government dropped all charges.[13] In response the judge overseeing the case has asked the full D.C. circuit to rehear the Flynn case following the dismissal of prosecution by the Justice Department.[14]
- In 2018 the former Trump campaign Fmforeign policy adviser George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty.[15] Papadopoulos was sentenced to two weeks in jail for lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russians.[16]
- In 2018 deputy Trump campaign chairman Richard Gates pleaded guilty.[17] Rick Gates’ sentencing was initially delayed as he cooperated in several ongoing investigations.[18] He was sentenced to 45 days in jail and 3 years of probation.[19] Gates testified that he and Manafort conspired to commit bank and tax fraud.[20]
- In 2020 President Trump’s former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon was charged for defrauding a charity raising money to build the wall.[21] Bannon was arrested while aboard a luxury yacht owned by a Chinese billionaire. Prosecutors assert that Bannon and his colleagues purposely misled donors to defraud them.[22]
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1) Fox News – Trump Foundation agrees to dissolve after lawsuit alleged ‘illegal conduct’
2) New York Times – Trump Foundation Will Dissolve, Accused of ‘Shocking Pattern of Illegality’
3) NPR – Judge Says Trump Must Pay $2 Million Over Misuse Of Foundation Funds
4) Fox News – Roger Stone indicted on several charges as part of Mueller’s Russia collusion probe
5) Fox News – Roger Stone found guilty on all counts in trial stemming from Mueller probe
6) Fox News – Trump commutes Roger Stone’s sentence, days before prison term set to begin
7) Fox News – Paul Manafort sentenced on foreign lobbying and witness tampering charges
8) Fox News – Paul Manafort sentenced to 47 months in prison on bank and tax fraud charges
10) The Globe & Mail – Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen sentenced to three years in prison
11) United States of America v. Michael Cohen – THE GOVERNMENT’S SENTENCING MEMORANDUM
12) Maclean’s – Michael Flynn pleads guilty to making false statements to FBI
13) NPR – Michael Flynn Pleaded Guilty. Why Is The Justice Department Dropping The Charges?
15) CBC – Mueller recommends 6 months in prison for Papadopoulos
16) New York Times – George Papadopoulos, Ex-Trump Adviser, Is Sentenced to 14 Days in Jail
17) Washington Examiner – Rick Gates pleads guilty, will cooperate with Robert Mueller probe
18) Politico – Mueller delays sentencing for ex-Trump aide Gates over ongoing cooperation
21) BBC – Steve Bannon charged with fraud over Mexico wall funds
22) Fox News – Steve Bannon, ‘We Build the Wall’ organizers arrested, charged with defrauding donors