Trump’s former campaign chairman is under FBI investigation, but some say he is touting access to the president to prospective business partners.
.. that hasn’t stopped him from doing business with international figures and companies, partly by claiming continued access to Trump
.. Manafort quietly consulted on a proposal under which the Chinese fund — the China Development Fund — would invest $30 billion or more in the Puerto Rican government’s bond debt and possibly the island’s critical infrastructure
.. Manafort indicated that he could convince the Trump administration to support any resulting deal, because he’s remained in contact with Trump’s team, and that he played a role in helping to soften Trump’s tough campaign rhetoric on China.
.. he has narrowly interpreted legal provisions dictating the circumstances under which individuals are required to disclose lobbying or public relations work
.. scrutiny of his work in Ukraine — which is currently under investigation by the FBI and congressional intelligence committees as part of their Russia probes — led to Manafort’s ouster as Trump’s campaign chairman
.. The idea that Manafort would market his access to Trump to clients and prospective clients interested in influencing government decision-making — without registering as a lobbyist — deeply bothers Trump’s allies.
.. he’s carved out a lucrative niche representing businessmen and politicians in parts of the world where real or perceived ties to a U.S. president tend to outweigh negative press in the U.S.
.. Manafort also are working with Shanghai billionaire Yan Jiehe to help his company, Pacific Construction Group, win contracts to build infrastructure around the world.
.. “The bulk of infrastructure development right now is going on in Africa, not in the U.S.
.. “Is he friends with Russian oligarchs? Yeah, the same way he’s friends with Argentinian and Mexican oligarchs. There are oligarchs around the world, but the fact that he’s friends with Russian oligarchs doesn’t mean that he supports or even likes [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.”