Trump's campaign chief linked to Kyiv cash scandal

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By Christopher Cummins  with New York Times, Agencies
Trump's campaign chief linked to Kyiv cash scandal

Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau say secret documents link Paul Manafort, Donald Trump’s campaign manager, to $12.7m in ‘off the books payments’ from the party of ousted president Viktor Yanukovych.

Manafort worked as a political consultant for Yanukovych’s Party of Regions with an office in Kyiv.

Government investigators are attempting to unravel the corrupt network of individuals who allegedly looted Ukrainian assests while Yanukovych was in power.

The head of Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau, Artem Sytnyk made the following statement:” “Regarding Mr. Manafort, his last name is mentioned in the so-called “black ledger” of the Party of Regions. And according to this list, more than $12m were spent to cover expenses, which were related to this person starting from November 20, 2007.”

There is no proof that he accepted payments between 2007 and 2012.

Manafort issued a stern denial: “I have never received a single ‘off-the-books cash payment’ as falsely ‘reported’ by the New York Times, nor have I ever done work for the governments of Ukraine or Russia,’ he responded,” he added “The suggestion that I accepted cash payments is unfounded, silly and nonsensical.”

In the 1980’s Manafort was engaged by former Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, before working with Yanukovych and Donald Trump.