Special counsel Robert Mueller and his investigators have issued subpoenas to global banks for records of transactions and account information involving Paul Manafort, former chairman of the Trump campaign.
Bloomberg reported Thursday that Mueller’s team sent the subpoenas in recent weeks to financial institutions for documents involving not only Manafort, but some of his companies and business partner Rick Gates as well.
Mueller has also contacted Manafort’s other business associates, including his son-in-law, and a Ukrainian oligarch, sources told Bloomberg.
The special counsel’s inquiries are in an attempt to push Manafort to cooperate with prosecutors or gain additional information to pressure the former Trump campaign chairman, Bloomberg reported.
Manafort has become a central figure in Mueller’s wide-ranging investigation. The FBI raided Manafort’s Alexandria, Va., home July 26 after obtaining a search warrant for documents, and the search was confirmed by Manafort’s spokesman.
“FBI agents executed a search warrant at one of Mr. Manafort’s residences,” Jason Maloni said in a statement Wednesday. “Mr. Manafort has consistently cooperated with law enforcement and other serious inquiries and did so on this occasion as well.”
Manafort’s business dealings are one of several inquiries Mueller and his team have launched as part of the Justice Department’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election.
Mueller is also investigating ties between Trump campaign associates and Russian officials, former national security adviser Mike Flynn’s work for foreign governments, and the firing of former FBI Director James Comey.
