Veteran defense lawyer turned judge oversees case against ex-FBI Director Comey
Read full article: Veteran defense lawyer turned judge oversees case against ex-FBI Director ComeyThe federal judge overseeing the Justice Departmentโs prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey has already handled cases in President Donald Trumpโs orbit.
Giuliani associate gets year in prison in foreign donor case
Read full article: Giuliani associate gets year in prison in foreign donor caseA Florida man who helped Rudy Giuliani seek damaging information against Joe Biden in Ukraine has been sentenced to a year and a day in prison and fined $10,000 in an unrelated campaign finance case.
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Plea and a trial loom in next month for Giuliani associates
Read full article: Plea and a trial loom in next month for Giuliani associatesThe October illegal campaign contribution trial of an associate of Rudy Giuliani and a guilty plea set to occur this week by a second associate puts a spotlight on him as a government probe of the former mayor continues.

Giuliani associate in talks with impeachment investigators
Read full article: Giuliani associate in talks with impeachment investigatorsRudy Giuliani (center) speaks with New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone prior to a game between the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox in London in June 2019. (CNN) - An associate of Rudy Giuliani -- Lev Parnas -- has initiated talks with impeachment investigators through his attorney. Reuters first reported that Parnas was in talks with impeachment investigators. "I don't know those gentlemen. I don't know what they do but I don't know, maybe they were clients of Rudy.

Judge denies attempt by Giuliani associate to get off house arrest
Read full article: Judge denies attempt by Giuliani associate to get off house arrest(CNN) - A federal judge denied an associate of Rudy Giuliani's request to lift house arrest and GPS monitoring as part of his bail condition at a hearing Friday. Todd Blanche, Fruman's lawyer, said the men often booked their flights last minute and would choose one-way fares if they didn't know their schedule. He added that the price of the one-way ticket to Vienna was $8,000 compared with $20,000 for a round-trip ticket. The brotherAt the bail hearing prosecutors revealed that their ongoing investigation could ensnare Fruman's brother, Steven. Roos said prosecutors were trying to "evaluate" if Fruman's brother is linked.

London trip photos show Giuliani with indicted associate
Read full article: London trip photos show Giuliani with indicted associateThe trip also included Giuliani speaking at a luncheon for a Ukrainian charity group connected to Parnas and Igor Fruman, another recently indicted associate. Photos reveal who was with GiulianiCNN's KFile identified Giuliani's London travels with Parnas through photos on the former New York City mayor's Twitter account and other public photos posted on social media on June 29 and June 30. Photos from both days show Giuliani and Parnas, and who appears to be Fruman, at the game. In other photos before the game, Giuliani can be seen with both Parnas and Aaron Boone, the manager of the Yankees. The reason for Giuliani's trip was to give a paid speech to American Friends of Anatevka on May 14, according to comments Giuliani made to the New York Times.

GOP campaigns unload donations from Giuliani's indicted associates
Read full article: GOP campaigns unload donations from Giuliani's indicted associatesAt least six campaigns said the tainted money will be, or has already been, donated to charity. CNN heard from nine of the 26 Republican lawmakers who directly received money from Parnas or Fruman about the allocation of these funds. The other campaigns and committees could not be reached for comment or did not respond to requests from CNN. A spokesman for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told CNN that he will reroute the money to a "local charity." McCarthy, who is the highest-ranking Republican in the House, received the maximum donation of $2,700 from Parnas in 2018, according to the FEC.

Feds issue subpoenas as probe into Giuliani associates escalates
Read full article: Feds issue subpoenas as probe into Giuliani associates escalatesFederal prosecutors told a judge this week that they are sifting through data from more than 50 bank accounts. Igor Fruman, Parnas and their two co-defendants have all pleaded not guilty in the case alleging they funneled foreign donations into US elections. It's not clear why prosecutors are interested in Steven Fruman, or what specifically agents sought from the safe. As they pursue an ongoing investigation into Igor Fruman, Parnas and their co-defendants, prosecutors are also investigating Giuliani's Ukranian business dealings, CNN has reported. He says he has not been contacted by the FBI or by New York federal prosecutors.

Giuliani associates leveraged access to raise money
Read full article: Giuliani associates leveraged access to raise moneyAt another time, they convinced a Florida-based businessman to loan them $100,000 so they could connect him with Giuliani and other prominent conservatives. "They didn't find any reason why we shouldn't take their money," said the Republican with knowledge of the matter. Search for cashIt wasn't the only time Parnas and Fruman tried to use their connections to Giuliani to push for cash. Among his alleged troubles, one source said, was that he needed money to pay Giuliani to be a spokesperson for one of Parnas' companies. While questions in Washington swirl around Shokin's role in this controversy, Giuliani, Parnas, Fruman had specific plans for the former Ukrainian official up until the day of their arrest.

Giuliani associates to be arraigned on campaign finance charges
Read full article: Giuliani associates to be arraigned on campaign finance chargesThe two are linked closely with Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal attorney. Belarus-born Fruman and Ukraine-born Parnas, both US citizens and Florida residents, introduced Giuliani to former and current Ukrainian officials, and Parnas' company, Boca Raton-based Fraud Guarantee, paid Giuliani $500,000, he told Reuters. Giuliani himself is a subject of the ongoing investigation by the federal prosecutors who charged Fruman and Parnas, a probe that is examining Giuliani's Ukrainian business dealings, CNN has reported. Fruman and Parnas' co-defendants, David Correia and Andrey Kukushkin, who are each charged with one count of conspiracy, were arraigned last week and pleaded not guilty. The-CNN-Wire & 2019 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company.

Trump photo with Giuliani associate taken at Ivanka Trump fashion show
Read full article: Trump photo with Giuliani associate taken at Ivanka Trump fashion show(CNN) - A March 2014 photograph showing Donald Trump with a recently indicted associate of Rudy Giuliani appears to have been taken at a fashion show hosted by Ivanka Trump at the Trump National Doral in Florida, a CNN KFile review reveals. CNN's KFile identified that the photo with Trump and Lev Parnas was apparently taken at a fashion show at the Cadillac Championship, an annual professional golf tournament. Donald Trump spoke at the event, according to photos and a video posted on YouTube. Parnas' attendance at a Trump event in 2014 raises questions about whether he had any existing relationship with the President. In one picture, posted on Facebook, Trump and his son Eric can be seen chatting with a guest.

Rick Perry pushed for new Naftogaz leaders
Read full article: Rick Perry pushed for new Naftogaz leadersUS Energy Secretary Rick Perry faces a deadline Friday to comply with a congressional subpoena as part of the ongoing impeachment inquiry. Perry, Parnas, Fruman and Giuliani have all been subpoenaed by House Democrats for information relating to the impeachment inquiry. Furthermore, potential changes at the Ukrainian energy giant could have major geopolitical implications. (Dale Perry and Rick Perry are unrelated). Perry said Parnas and Fruman also brought up Ukrainian businessman Dymtro Firtash, who has served as the main intermediary between Naftogaz and Gazprom.

Giuliani investigation includes counterintelligence probe
Read full article: Giuliani investigation includes counterintelligence probeThe counterintelligence part of the investigation indicates that FBI and criminal prosecutors in Manhattan are looking at a broader set of issues related to Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, than has been previously reported. McCallion says FBI counterintelligence agents in February or March asked questions about some of Giuliani's Ukrainian business dealings. "I was just asked whether I or any of my clients knew of any dealings that these two guys had with Giuliani," McCallion said. The indictment announced last week centers on ties between the Giuliani associates and foreigners, including a Russian national with whom they did business. Giuliani has said he is unaware of any criminal investigation into his business dealings.

4th man accused in Ukrainian campaign scheme in custody
Read full article: 4th man accused in Ukrainian campaign scheme in custodyCorreia, Igor Fruman, Lev Parnas and Andrey Kukushkin are due in court Thursday for their arraignment. He was charged as part of a scheme to funnel money from someone described as a Russian national into US elections. Parnas, Fruman and Kukushkin were arrested last week when the charges were announced. Parnas and Fruman worked with Giuliani and introduced him to Ukrainian prosecutors who Giuliani claims provided negative information about Trump's political rival Joe Biden. That PAC spent over $3 million to back Sessions in the 2018 campaign, but he went on to lose his seat.

Grand jury subpoenas Pete Sessions in Giuliani Ukraine case
Read full article: Grand jury subpoenas Pete Sessions in Giuliani Ukraine caseFormer Texas Congressman Pete Sessions has been tied to the Rudolph Giuliani associates arrested in Washington, but denies knowledge of their activities. WASHINGTON, D.C. - A grand jury has subpoenaed former Republican Rep. Pete Sessions on matters connected to President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, two Giuliani associates' dealings with Ukraine and efforts to remove the US ambassador to Ukraine, a source familiar with the matter told CNN. The second source refused to rule out that Sessions himself is not a target of the grand jury investigation, saying instead that the investigation has "not reached definitive conclusions." Mackowiak declined to specifically comment on reports that Sessions had received a grand jury subpoena for documents related to Giuliani's Ukraine dealings and his communications with Giuliani, Parnas and Fruman. Giuliani said Saturday that he's not aware he's under investigation for his involvement in the unraveling Ukraine scandal.

Florida men tied to Giuliani, Ukraine probe arrested
Read full article: Florida men tied to Giuliani, Ukraine probe arrestedWASHINGTON - Two Florida businessmen tied to President Donald Trump's lawyer and the Ukraine impeachment investigation were charged with federal campaign finance violations. Giuliani said he couldn't comment and that he didn't represent the men in campaign finance matters. That happened about the same time that Parnas and Fruman committed to raising more than $20,000 for the politician. Parnas and Fruman appeared in court Thursday and were ordered to remain jailed as a bail package was worked out. Prosecutors allege that Parnas and Fruman conspired to make illegal contributions to try to skirt the limit on federal campaign contributions.

Who's who in the Giuliani-linked indictment
Read full article: Who's who in the Giuliani-linked indictmentTo House Democrats, Parnas is a critical witness for their impeachment inquiry. He was one of Parnas' business partners and also was involved in large political donations to pro-Trump efforts and other Republicans. He was charged with one crime: conspiring to violate campaign finance laws by orchestrating political donations from a foreign donor. Kukushkin was charged with only one crime in the indictment: conspiring to violate campaign finance laws by orchestrating political donations from a foreign donor. The Russian business daily newspaper Vedomosti profiled Kukushkin in May as one of several Russian businessmen who are investing in the American cannabis market.
Indictment: Pete Sessions was asked to help remove Ukraine ambassador
Read full article: Indictment: Pete Sessions was asked to help remove Ukraine ambassadorThe indictment alleges that a "Congressman-1" had been the beneficiary of approximately $3 million in independent expenditures by "Committee-1." Sessions is not named in the indictment and is not charged with any wrongdoing. Parnas met with Congressman-1 and sought Congressman-1's assistance in causing the US Government to remove or recall the then-US Ambassador to Ukraine," the indictment states. When Parnas and Fruman met with Sessions, Parnas and Fruman committed to raise at least $20,000 for Sessions, according to the indictment. Rep. Mark Meadows on Thursday cited Sessions when asked by CNN whether he had any concerns about Yovanovitch's removal.

New charges to Giuliani associates renew foreign money concerns
Read full article: New charges to Giuliani associates renew foreign money concernsFruman and Parnas were charged with conspiring to make illegal straw donations and lying to federal election regulators. And Trump on Thursday sought to distance himself from the Giuliani associates, even as he acknowledged he appeared in photos with them. Prosecutors say Parnas and Fruman committed to raising at least $20,000 for then-Rep. Pete Sessions of Texas, identified in the indictment at "Congressman-1." Prosecutors say Parnas discussed with Sessions his effort to seek Marie Yovanovitch's ouster as the US' top envoy to Ukraine. According to the indictment, Parnas' effort to remove Yovanovitch came at the behest of "one or more Ukrainian government officials."

Wall Street Journal: Giuliani had lunch with 2 indicted associates
Read full article: Wall Street Journal: Giuliani had lunch with 2 indicted associatesWASHINGTON (CNN) - Rudy Giuliani lunched with two associates at the Trump International Hotel in Washington on Wednesday just hours before the duo was arrested at a Washington-area airport, according to the Wall Street Journal. A person who saw the trio eating at the Trump hotel spoke to the Journal for the story. Parnas and Fruman were arrested at Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia on Wednesday and on Thursday were indicted for allegedly funneling foreign money into US elections. A law enforcement source told CNN they were booked on a flight to Frankfurt, Germany, to connect to another flight. Parnas and Fruman are two of four men who were indicted on Thursday.

House Democrats subpoena indicted Giuliani associates
Read full article: House Democrats subpoena indicted Giuliani associates(CNN) - House Democrats on Thursday issued subpoenas to two associates of President Donald Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani who were indicted by federal prosecutors on the same day. The leaders of the three House committees leading the impeachment inquiry demanded that Parnas and Fruman turn over documents related to communications with the White House, Ukrainian officials and Giuliani by Oct. 16. The committees have sent subpoenas to the State Department, White House, Pentagon and Office of Management and Budget, as well as to Giuliani and US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland. More subpoenas are likely in the coming days in response to White House stonewalling of the impeachment probe. The Democrats wrote to Dowd that they would also be seeking testimony from the Giuliani associates "at a later date."
