Electronic surveillance of former Donald Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort picked up his conversations with Russians that took place during the 2016 campaign, according to a report.
FBI agents wiretapped Manafort in an investigation that runs back to 2014.
That probe preceded his time as a top Trump campaign official, and is believed to have initially centered on undisclosed work for Ukrainian entities.
But surveillance also occurred during the 2016 campaign, and according to CBS news included conversations Manafort had with Russians.
FBI agents wiretapped former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort in an investigation that runs back to 2014
A former U.S. official told the network the conversations Manafort had with Russians were ‘about the campaign’ and potentially include Trump conversations.
Trump has indicated he spoke with Manafort on occasion as president.
The revelation that Manafort is considered significant not only because someone so closely connected to Trump has been under such scrutiny.
Such surveillance would have taken place under a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant – which would have required a judge who sits on a special court to sign on off it based on a showing of probable cause.
CNN reported Monday night that Manafort had been under surveillance. The network reported that intercepts provoked concerns that Manafort had urged Russians to help the campaign.
The Network reported that authorities got a second FISA warrant related to the probe into connections between the Trump campaign and Russian officials.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump gives a thumbs up as his campaign manager Paul Manafort (C) and daughter Ivanka (R) look on during Trump’s walk through at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, U.S., July 21, 2016
The building where former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort has a residence is shown August 10, 2017 in Alexandria, Virginia. Manafort’s residence was searched for evidence in late July 2016 as part of the Russia investigation being conducted by special investigator Robert Mueller
Manafort’s spokesman, Jason Maloni, appeared before a federal grand jury in July.
That is the same month that federal investigators swooped down on his Virginia home and raided it for documents after getting a search warrant. The New York Times reported that investigators picked his lock and surprised him in his bedroom.
Maloni said in a statement: ‘If true, it is a felony to reveal the existence of a FISA warrant, regardless of the fact that no charges ever emerged.’
He continued: “The U.S Department of Justice’s Inspector General should immediately conduct an investigation into these leaks and to examine the motivations behind a previous administration’s effort to surveil a political opponent. Mr. Manafort requests that the Department of Justice release any intercepts involving him and any non-Americans so interested parties can come to the same conclusion as the DOJ – there is nothing there.