FBI Inspects Home of Former Trump Campaign Chairman

A spokesperson for Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, announced that the FBI entered Manafort's home in July 2016 and seized documents. According to Reuters, Jason Maloney, Manafort's spokesperson, confirmed the Washington Post report on Wednesday, August 9. The Washington Post reported that a day after Manafort met with members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, FBI agents visited his home in Alexandria, Virginia, at dawn on July 26, 2016, without Manafort's knowledge. The report was based on sources familiar with the case, whose identities were not disclosed. The spokesperson for Trump's campaign said on Wednesday: 'FBI agents executed a search warrant at Mr. Manafort's residence. Mr. Manafort has always cooperated with law enforcement and in other important investigations, and he has done so in this situation as well.' Meanwhile, the New York Times reported, citing a 'knowledgeable source,' that FBI agents took tax documents and records related to Manafort's foreign bank accounts. On June 9, 2016, Manafort met with Donald Trump's son and son-in-law and a Russian lawyer reportedly connected to the Kremlin. Trump's son previously revealed that they were supposed to receive information about Hillary Clinton, the Democratic candidate, but ultimately no significant information was exchanged. Donald Trump, the President of the United States, supported his son, stating that his son showed through the release of emails that nothing significant happened in that meeting. U.S. intelligence agencies claim that Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, intended to undermine Hillary Clinton's campaign in a coordinated operation last year. The Russian president has denied these allegations. Currently, various investigations are underway regarding Russia's possible interference in the U.S. elections. James Comey, the former FBI director, testified before Congress on June 8, stating: 'I know that my firing was related to the way I was investigating Russia, which was putting pressure on him (Trump), in some way harassing him, and he decided to fire me.' The Trump administration has provided various reasons for Comey's dismissal, but the President confirmed on May 11 that Comey was fired because of the Russia investigation. In an interview with NBC, Trump stated that he was thinking about 'things related to Russia' when he fired Comey. He has strongly denied any collusion with Russia during the election, calling it 'fake news' from the media and a Democratic smear campaign.