The U.S. government has announced indictments against a Russian-born U.S. citizen and former adviser to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Dimitri Simes and his wife are accused of working for Russia's Channel One, a sanctioned state television network, and laundering over $1 million in proceeds.
The Department of Justice revealed that the couple received financial compensation and other perks in exchange for their services to the network since June 2022. The sanctions on Channel One were imposed by the U.S. in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves emphasized the national security implications of the alleged violations, noting Simes' background as a former Soviet Union refugee turned U.S. citizen.
These indictments come amidst heightened concerns about Russian interference in the upcoming U.S. election. Federal authorities recently charged two individuals associated with a Russian media organization for covertly funding pro-Russian content production.
Simes, who founded the Center for the National Interest, was a key figure in the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. While he had interactions with various individuals in Trump's circle, he was not charged with any crime related to the probe.
The second indictment involves Anastasia Simes, who allegedly received funds from a sanctioned Russian businessman with ties to the Russian government. If convicted, the couple could face up to 20 years in prison.
Efforts to reach the attorney for the Simes and the Trump campaign for comment were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.
