Ex-Trump Aide To Plead Guilty In Russia Probe
Former Trump aide Rick Gates is expected to plead guilty Friday to charges related to the special counsel's probe into Russian meddling in the US election — a potential sign that he's cooperating with the investigation.
Gates' plea deal with feds could also mean he's prepared to testify against his co-defendant Paul Manafort, President Trump's former campaign chair, in a blow to Manafort's defense, the New York Times reported.
With a guilty plea, Gates — who reportedly has been hammering out a plea deal with prosecutors over the last couple of weeks — hopes to protect his family both emotionally and financially from a potentially lengthy criminal trial, a source told the Times.
He told family and friends he decided to cop to charges in a letter sent Friday morning, a source told ABC News.
"Despite my initial desire to vigorously defend myself, I have had a change of heart," Gates, 45, wrote in the letter. "The reality of how long this legal process will likely take, the cost, and the circus-like atmosphere of an anticipated trial are too much. I will better serve my family moving forward by exiting this process."
"The consequence is the public humiliation, which at this moment seems like a small price to pay for what our children would have to endure otherwise," Gates added.
The source told ABC News that the deal with feds came together in the middle of the this week – and that prior to that, it had not seemed likely one would be struck. The decision to plead guilty was "gut-wrenching," the source added.
Gates would likely face a lesser prison sentence in exchange for his cooperation.
Manafort and Gates, who served as Trump's deputy campaign chairman, initially were charged in a 12-count indictment last October as part of special counsel Robert Mueller's probe.
The two business partners are accused of tax and bank fraud related to their work for a pro-Russia Ukrainian political party and for failing to tell the feds they were working as lobbyists for a foreign government.
They are accused of laundering more than $75 million they received for their lobbyist work through various offshore accounts and spending the money on lavish purchases.
The feds announced additional charges against Gates and Manafort on Thursday.
A trial date has not yet been set.
Gates' plea is expected Friday afternoon.
He stayed on with the Trump campaign after Manafort was fired in August 2016. He served as liaison between the campaign and the Republican National Committee and traveled on Trump's plane through Election Day, the newspaper reported.
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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