By Alex Guillen Richmond Times-Dispatch, VA A federal grand jury has indicted three people in connection with the Trump campaign’s alleged interference in the 2016 election.
Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring said Thursday the grand jury’s indictment was related to a federal probe of alleged Russian interference in U.S. politics, including an allegation of Russian interference and a possible violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
She also said the people arrested are part of a “Russian intelligence network” and the case is related to an alleged 2016 scheme to funnel tens of millions of dollars to the Democratic Party through two of its Virginia donors, the Associated Press reported.
Shering said the investigation has expanded to include alleged coordination between the Trump administration and Russian officials during the campaign, and the investigation includes an allegation that the Trump transition team sought to circumvent U.N. sanctions on Russia by hiring an outside attorney to conduct business in the U.K. and possibly setting up a meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The indictment was unsealed after a three-day trial that began last week.
A grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia, charged the three people with conspiracy, mail fraud, and violating the FARA law by engaging in a scheme to defraud the U:S.
government.
A third person, a former business partner of Trump’s campaign, was charged with mail fraud.
The third person has been charged with obstruction of justice.
Virginia has been a key battleground in the Trump-Russia probe.
Prosecutors in Alexandria said in their unsealed indictment that one of the defendants was a business associate of the campaign.
Trump, who has been under scrutiny over Russia’s alleged election interference, has repeatedly denied any involvement in Russia’s meddling in the election and has cast doubt on the validity of any of the election’s results.