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Ex-Trump campaign aide Gates pleads guilty to conspiracy, lying to FBI

WASHINGTON, Feb 23 (KUNA) -- Rick Gates, a former top official in President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, pleaded guilty Friday to conspiracy and lying to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russia interference in US presidential election.
Gates is the third former Trump aide to admit guilt in the investigation.
According to the criminal information document in the Gates case, Gates conspired to defraud the US regarding money he and his business partner, Paul Manafort earned, and lied to the FBI in an interview about a 2013 meeting between Manafort, a lobbyist and a congressman.
Manafort, who was investigated largely due to his financial ties to Ukraine, served as Trump campaign chairman in the summer of 2016.
Both Gates and Manafort were served a 32-count indictment Thursday, following a 12-count indictment of the pair in October.
Gates served as a senior figure in the Trump campaign and had access to the White House as an outside adviser in the early months of the administration in 2017.
Gates and Manafort are accused of lying on their income-tax returns and conspiring to commit bank fraud to get loans, as part a scheme to use their income from a Ukrainian political party to buy properties, evade taxes and support Manafort's luxury lifestyle.
According to court documents, Manafort laundered more than USD 18 million between 2006 and 2016, and Gates transferred more than USD three million to accounts that he controlled during that time.
Manafort has protested the allegations and said he is not guilty of the charges. The plea by Gates on Friday could complicate Manafort's defense in the investigation. (end) rm.hm