Russian Billionaire Linked To Manafort Seeks Immunity To Testify
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A Russian oligarch who secretly employed Donald Trump’s campaign manager, Paul Manafort, offered to testify before congressional committees investigating Russia’s meddling in the U.S. election, but only if he’s granted immunity from prosecution, The New York Times reported Friday.
Lawmakers have so far turned down the demands of aluminum billionaire Oleg Deripaska, lest an immunity deal compromise criminal investigations into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the election, according to the Times. Manafort is said to be a key figure in the FBI’s investigation.
Deripaska and Manafort worked together on an offshore fund in 2007 that quickly folded. But Deripaska also provided a $10 million annual contract to Manafort beginning in 2006 to promote Russian interests abroad, The Associated Press reported in March. During the time of the contract, Manafort was working as a campaign consultant to candidates in the Ukraine backed by the Kremlin.