Advocates of the former White house adviser Gregory B. Craig said that in the coming days, he expects Federal charges in connection with legal work he performed for the Ukrainian government in 2012.
74-year-old Craig, who held important posts in the administrations of Clinton and Obama, has become a defendant in the case under investigation Robert Mueller. It is assumed that he broke the Law on the registration of foreign agents FARA requires Americans to disclose detailed information about work performed for foreign governments and politicians. In 2012 year he was a partner at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, carrying out the orders of the government of Viktor Yanukovych, the then President of Ukraine, connected with Paul Manafort, which at that time was a political consultant who collaborated with the Yanukovych. Manafort already convicted and sentenced, including for violation of FARA. In particular, allegedly, Craig provided Advisory support to the Kiev authorities in the prosecution of Yulia Tymoshenko — old political rival, Viktor Yanukovych.
Skadden after he published a book-report on 187 pages, condemning Tymoshenko. Manafort in the investigation of Muller acknowledged that this report was used as part of a broad effort to improve the reputation of Yanukovych in the West. The Ukrainian government reported that Skadden received from him only $ 12 thousand for this report, but prosecutors are confident that Manafort used an offshore account which was transferred over $ 4 million to pay for this work. Skadden in January reached an agreement with the Ministry of justice, admitting that he had to register for its work in 2012 and 2013, and agreed to transfer $ 4.6 million to not be prosecuted.
Craig’s lawyers argue that he was not obliged to register their work in FARA, because he’s not doing PR for the Ukrainian government, has repeatedly refused requests for participation in the Ukrainian media and lobbying campaign to promote the report said. According to lawyers, the case against their client was unproven, therefore, the office of Mueller and handed him over to Federal prosecutors in Manhattan last year for possible prosecutions associated with the FARA, but they were not charged. However, instead, the case was transferred in January in Washington and now in the hands of the U.S. attorney’s office in Washington and the national security Division of the Ministry of justice, which ensures compliance with FARA.
If charges are filed, Gregory B. Craig will become the first known democratic activist, brought to trial in a result of the investigation Robert Mueller Russian interference in the presidential campaign of 2016.
