Mueller Investigates Manafort’s Meeting with Russian Partner in 2016: Court Filing by Reuters

By Nathan Layne

U.S. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating a meeting during the 2016 presidential campaign involving Paul Manafort, who was then Donald Trump’s campaign chairman, and Konstantin Kilimnik, a business associate believed to have connections to Russian intelligence. This focus was revealed in a court filing.

The meeting in question took place on August 2, 2016, where Manafort and Kilimnik discussed matters related to Ukraine. A transcript from a sealed court hearing on February 4, regarding Manafort’s criminal case, highlights the significance of this discussion.

Mueller alleges that Manafort misrepresented how many times he and Kilimnik communicated about the subject, which remains mostly redacted in the transcript. Previous legal documents indicate that the focal point may have been a “Ukrainian peace plan” aimed at alleviating U.S. sanctions against Russia—an objective that has been a longstanding goal of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Andrew Weissmann, a prosecutor on Mueller’s team, emphasized the importance of Manafort’s alleged falsehoods concerning his meetings with Kilimnik, stating that these lies relate directly to the underlying motives behind the Special Counsel’s investigation. Weissmann noted that this inquiry goes to the “heart” of what they are examining.

Mueller’s investigation centers on U.S. allegations claiming Russia interfered in the election and whether any Trump campaign members coordinated with Russian officials. Thus far, the probe has implicated 34 individuals. Moscow has denied any interference, and Trump has characterized the investigation as a politically motivated witch hunt.

Kilimnik, who was indicted on witness tampering charges in relation to Manafort’s case, has denied links to Russian espionage agencies.

In addition to their August 2 meeting at a cigar bar in Manhattan, Manafort and Kilimnik discussed Ukraine-related issues again in December 2016 and multiple times in early 2017. Notably, one in-person discussion occurred in January 2017 during Kilimnik’s visit to Washington for Trump’s inauguration.

The closed hearing was conducted for the judge to evaluate evidence supporting claims from Mueller’s office that Manafort had lied about five matters, violating a plea agreement made in September. Though Manafort was convicted of financial crimes in a separate case in Virginia, he has stated that any discrepancies in his statements to prosecutors or the grand jury were unintentional.

Additionally, the transcript revealed that even after being indicted by Mueller, Manafort continued working for a client in Ukraine in 2018.