have received sustained contributions from General Dynamics over the years, however, voted against the company's interests, including Sen. Murphy and Vermont Independent Bernie Sanders.

According to federal records reviewed by International Business Times, the company spent nearly $7 million on Washington lobbying in just the first half of 2016 — up 4 percent from the same period in 2015. In the second quarter of 2016, the firm employed 27 former government officials as Washington lobbyists.

Much of the Senate floor debate revolved around whether Saudi Arabia is a reliable U.S. ally, deserving of advanced U.S. weaponry. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of the deal, said Saudi was not a “perfect” partner, but argued that the weapons were needed to counter Iranian influence in the region. Tennessee RepublicanWashington (CNN) Former Donald Trump campaign official Rick Gates pleaded guilty Friday to two criminal charges in special counsel Robert Mueller's wide-ranging investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign and related activities.

Gates is now the third Trump associate known to be working with Mueller's investigation, and his plea deal will put the spotlight on former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Prosecutors may try to pressure Manafort to speak with them about what he knows, particularly about the campaign.

As part of Gates' agreement, which dismisses a handful of money laundering and other criminal charges, Gates will have to cooperate with the special counsel by turning over all documents relevant to the investigation, speak with investigators as they wish and possibly testify in other court cases, including Manafort's. Gates