Paul Manafort, Donald Trump’s campaign chairman, fired back at the New York Times on Monday after the paper published a report on secret Ukrainian ledgers which show nearly $13 million in undisclosed cash set aside for Manafort.
“Once again The New York times has chosen to purposefully ignore facts and professional journalism to fit their political agenda, choosing to attack my character and reputation rather than present an honest report,” the veteran GOP operative said in a statement to NBC News. “The suggestion that I accepted cash payments is unfounded, silly, and nonsensical.”
Manafort went on to strenuously deny accepting the cash payments, which the paper reported were set aside in 22 separate installments between 2007 and 2012.
“My work in Ukraine ceased following the country’s parliamentary elections in October 2014,” he said in the statement. “In addition, as the article points out hesitantly, every government official interviewed states I have done nothing wrong.”
The Ukrainian ledgers, which were first reported by the Times, show $12.7 million in undisclosed payments earmarked for Manafort from former President Viktor Yanukovych’s pro-Russia political party, which Manafort consulted for before Yanukovych was ousted and fled to Russia in 2014. Ukrainian anti-corruption officials have said they have not yet determined if Manafort received any of the funds.
