Indictment: Giuliani Associates Funneled Russian Money into Trump PAC's Coffers

Donald Trump Jr., Igor Fruman (far right) Lev Parnas (next to Fruman)

Today, the SDNY arrested two associates of President Trump's personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani. The men, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, according to the indictment, "funneled foreign money" from a Russian oligarch into the campaign coffers of the President.

The indictment reads, "Lev Parnas [and] Igor Fruman... conspired to circumvent the federal laws against foreign influence by engaging in a scheme to funnel foreign money to candidates for federal and State office so that the defendants could buy potential influence with candidates."

According to the indictment, a yet-unnamed Russian donor supplied Parnas and Fruman with money, which they then funneled to a pro-Trump PAC.

This is illegal because, as the indictment reads, "To prevent the influence of foreign nationals on elections, the Election ACC prohibits foreign nationals, directly or indirectly, from making any contributions or donations in connection with federal, State, or local elections."

The indictment often centers around "Foreign National—I," who, according to the indictment, "is a foreign national Russian citizen and businessman who, at all relevant times, was not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States."

Under the title, "The Foreign National Donor Scheme," the indictment explains:

From in or about June 2018 through April 2019, LEV PARNAS, IGOR FRUMAN„ DAVID CORREIA, and ANDREY KUKUSHKTN, the defendants , and others known and unknown, conspired to make political donations — funded by Foreign National—I — to politicians and candidates for federal and State office to gain influence with candidates as to policies that would benefit a future business venture.

The SDNY apparently has communications to prove the scheme as well. As the document states, "communications between Foreign National-Ir and ANDREY KUKUSHKIN, LEV PARNAS, IGOR FRUMAN, and DAVID CORREIA, the defendants, confirm the defendants' use of foreign funds — and, in particular, funds from Foreign National—I to make the donations described."

As reported by the LA Times and Wall Street Journal, both Parnas and Fruman tried to donate $325,000 to a Trump Super PAC.