NBC: Cyprus Bank Accounts Linked To Manafort Probed For Money Laundering

Paul Manafort , senior aid to Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump attends an event on foreign policy in Washington on Wednesday April 27, 2016 in Washington, DC, USA. Photo by Olivier Douliery/Sipa USA
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A bank in Cyprus had investigated several bank accounts linked to Paul Manafort for potential money-laundering, NBC News reported early Wednesday morning, citing two unnamed “banking sources.”

Beginning in 2007, Manafort, former campaign chair to President Donald Trump, was linked to at least 15 bank accounts and 10 companies on Cyprus, the sources told NBC News. And at least one of those companies took in millions of dollars from an ally to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to court documents reviewed by the news outlet.

Once Cyprus Popular Bank launched an internal investigation into possible money-laundering, Manafort closed the accounts associated with him there, according to the report.

A spokesman for Manafort told NBC News that the accounts were set up “for a legitimate business purpose” and at the request of clients in Cyprus.

“All were legitimate entities and established for lawful ends,” the spokesman said, adding that accounts associated with Manafort were shuttered ahead of a government takeover of the bank.

The report comes as Manafort faces increasing scrutiny for his ties to Russia. A Ukrainian lawmaker has accused Manafort of laundering money from a pro-Russia Ukrainian political party, and the Associated Press recently revealed that Manafort was contracted by a Russian oligarch to develop a business and political strategy to promote Putin’s interests.

Manafort has agreed to speak with the House Intelligence Committee as part of its probe into Russian interference in the U.S. election.

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