President Trump turned to Twitter on Tuesday to lash out at the “Fake Media” and to claim the indictment against his former campaign manager shows there was “no collusion” in the 2016 election.
“The Fake News is working overtime. As Paul Manaforts lawyer said, there was ’no collusion’ and events mentioned took place long before he came to the campaign,” Trump posted on Twitter, referring to Kevin Downing.
Trump also threw cold water on revelations by George Papadopoulos, a foreign-policy adviser to his presidential campaign, who pleaded guilty to lying to federal investigators about his contacts with Russian officials.
”Few people knew the young, low level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar. Check the DEMS!” Trump wrote.
Manafort and his longtime business associate Rick Gates were hit by a 12-count indictment as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe charging them with tax fraud, conspiracy against the United States and money laundering.
Manafort, 68, and Gates, 45, allegedly committed the crimes while working for former Ukrainian President Viktor Vanykovych, who has ties to Putin, between 2006 and 2016.
They pleaded not guilty on Monday.
After Manafort’s arraignment, Downing said there was “no evidence” his client or the Trump campaign colluded with the Russians to interfere in the election.
Moments later, Trump tried to change the subject from the Russia probe to his legislative agenda.
“I hope people will start to focus on our Massive Tax Cuts for Business (jobs) and the Middle Class (in addition to Democrat corruption)!” he wrote.