Former Paul Manafort business associate Rick Gates said during testimony Tuesday that Manafort suggested a top bank official who allegedly extended him a loan for a spot in President Trump’s administration.
Evidence submitted by the prosecution shows that Stephen Calk’s name was included on a list for the national economic advisory council for the Trump campaign. Calk is the founder and CEO of Federal Savings Bank, one of the institutions Manafort received a loan from in 2016.
Then, in another email from November 2016, Manafort emailed Gates saying he needed to discuss Calk for secretary of the Army.
“I hear the list is being considered this weekend,” Manafort wrote in the email to Gates regarding the list of contenders for Army secretary.
Manafort sent Gates another email in December 2016 that included a list of people for whom he wanted to secure invitations to Trump’s inauguration. Included on the list were Calk and his son.
Manafort served as chairman of the Trump campaign, but resigned his post in August 2016.
Gates was also hired to work on the Trump campaign as deputy campaign chairman. He remained on board after Manafort left and served on Trump’s inaugural committee.
