The following article by Brandon Carter was posted on the Hill website September 16, 2017:
Special counsel Robert Mueller has hired yet another high-profile prosecutor for the ongoing investigation into potential ties between President Trump’s campaign and Russia, according to a new report.
Politico reports Kyle Freeny, a former Department of Justice lawyer who specializes in money laundering, has joined Mueller’s team. She was reportedly present during the grand jury testimony on Friday from a spokesman of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort.
Freeny was previously working on a DOJ case in their Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, part of the DOJ’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, which aims to reclaim money from foreign corruption.
That DOJ unit is reportedly investigating Ukrainian officials, including former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Manafort has previously registered as a foreign agent for his work consulting on behalf of the pro-Kremlin party, the Party of Regions.
Manafort’s consulting firm was paid a total of $17.15 million for its Ukraine work, according to a tally by The Hill.
Manafort has previously cooperated with congressional investigators in the Russia probe and has denied any wrongdoing, but FBI agents raided his home in July. The agents reportedly departed with records a day after Manafort had an interview with Senate investigators probing Russia’s election meddling.
Freeny becomes the 17th attorney known to join Mueller’s probe since it was established earlier this year. The special counsel has hired multiple former prosecutors and attorneys with a wide range of expertise, including public corruption and white-collar crime.
Most recently, Mueller hired Greg Andres, a former Justice Department official specializing in white-collar criminal defense.
View the post here.