WASHINGTON — A former top adviser to President Donald Trump’s election campaign pleaded guilty Friday to federal conspiracy and false-statements charges in the special counsel’s Russia investigation.

The plea by Rick Gates was a strong indication that he is planning to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation as it continues to probe the Trump campaign, Russian election interference and Gates’ longtime business associate, Paul Manafort.

Gates, 45, of Richmond, Virginia, made the plea at the Federal Courthouse in Washington.

A court filing shows Gates admitted to charges accusing him of conspiring against the U.S. government related to fraud and unregistered foreign lobbying as well as lying to federal authorities in a recent interview.

Gates’ plea came a day after a federal grand jury in Virginia returned a 32-count indictment against him and Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, accusing them of tax evasion and bank fraud.

The indictment in Virginia was the second round of charges against Gates and against Manafort, who has denied any wrongdoing. The two men were initially charged last October with unregistered lobbying and conspiring to launder millions of dollars they earned while working on behalf of a pro-Russian Ukrainian political party.

Gates’ decision marks the fifth publicly known guilty plea in the special counsel probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin during the 2016 campaign.

The plea also comes quickly on the heels of the stunning indictment last week that laid out a broad operation of election meddling by Russia, which began in 2014, and employed fake social media accounts and on-the-ground politicking to promote Trump’s campaign, disparage Hillary Clinton and sow division and discord widely among the U.S. electorate.

The charges to which Gates is pleading guilty don’t involve any conduct connected to the Trump campaign. They largely relate to a conspiracy laid out in his indictments, but they do reveal that Gates is accused of lying to the FBI during an interview earlier this month.

The court papers accuse Gates of lying about a March 19, 2013, meeting involving Manafort, a lobbyist and a member of Congress. Gates said the meeting did not include discussion of Ukraine, when in fact prosecutors say it did.

The charges don’t name the lobbyist or the lawmaker but filings with the Justice Department show Manafort and lobbyist Vin Weber of Mercury Public Affairs met with Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., on that date as part of an effort on behalf of Ukrainian interests.

Gates’ lawyers filed a motion this month indicating they had reached “irreconcilable differences” with him. His new lawyer, veteran Washington white-collar attorney Thomas Green, formally took over Thursday. Green did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

As Gates was kept on house arrest, he frequently pleaded with U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson for leniency to attend sporting events with his four children. His court filings gradually began to show the strain the case was placing on him and his family.

On Thursday night, Gates emailed a brief letter to friends and family, telling them of his decision to plead guilty, Republican lobbyist Jack Burkman said.

“It’s sad,” said Burkman, who had hosted a fundraiser for Gates’ legal defense fund.

Also Friday, Gates asked a judge’s permission to travel with his children to Boston for spring break so they could “learn about American history in general, and the Revolutionary War in particular.”

Depending upon the terms of his plea agreement, Gates could become a key cooperator for Mueller with intimate knowledge of Manafort’s years of political consulting work in Ukraine, as well as other events that have sparked the interest of federal investigators.

Gates had access at the highest levels of the campaign at the same time that Manafort, Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner met with a team of Russians in Trump Tower in June 2016. He was also in the top ranks of the campaign when then-Sen. Jeff Sessions held a pair of undisclosed meetings with Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak.

For a few months in 2016, Gates was indispensable to Trump, leading the ground effort to help Trump win the Republican nomination and flying from state to state to secure Republican delegates in a scramble that lasted all the way until the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

But his power and influence waned once Trump fired Manafort in August 2016 after The Associated Press disclosed how Gates and Manafort covertly directed a Washington lobbying campaign on behalf of Ukrainian interests.

Gates survived his mentor’s ouster and worked through the election on Trump’s inaugural committee — but among Trump aides he earned the nickname “the walking dead.” Gates also worked briefly with the outside political groups supporting Trump’s agenda, America First Policies and America First Action, but was pushed out of that job last year.

Gates was working for Tom Barrack, a close friend of Trump’s, when he was indicted last October.</s>A former top adviser to President Donald Trump's election campaign has formally pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy and false statements charges in the Russia investigation.

The plea by Rick Gates is a strong indication that he is planning to co-operate with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation as it continues to probe the Trump campaign, Russian election interference and Gates' longtime business associate Paul Manafort.

Forty-five-year-old Gates made the plea at the federal courthouse in Washington.

It comes a day after Gates and Manafort were indicted in Virginia on new charges of tax evasion and bank fraud.</s>WASHINGTON (AP) — A former top adviser to President Donald Trump’s election campaign pleaded guilty Friday to federal conspiracy and false-statements charges in the special counsel’s Russia investigation.

The plea by Rick Gates was a strong indication that he is planning to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation as it continues to probe the Trump campaign, Russian election interference and Gates’ longtime business associate, Paul Manafort.

Gates, 45, of Richmond, Virginia, made the plea at the Federal Courthouse in Washington.

A court filing shows Gates admitted to charges accusing him of conspiring against the U.S. government related to fraud and unregistered foreign lobbying as well as lying to federal authorities in a recent interview.

Gates’ plea came a day after a federal grand jury in Virginia returned a 32-count indictment against him and Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, accusing them of tax evasion and bank fraud.

The indictment in Virginia was the second round of charges against Gates and against Manafort, who has denied any wrongdoing. The two men were initially charged last October with unregistered lobbying and conspiring to launder millions of dollars they earned while working on behalf of a pro-Russian Ukrainian political party.

Gates’ decision marks the fifth publicly known guilty plea in the special counsel probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin during the 2016 campaign.

The plea also comes quickly on the heels of the stunning indictment last week that laid out a broad operation of election meddling by Russia, which began in 2014, and employed fake social media accounts and on-the-ground politicking to promote Trump’s campaign, disparage Hillary Clinton and sow division and discord widely among the U.S. electorate.

The charges to which Gates is pleading guilty don’t involve any conduct connected to the Trump campaign. They largely relate to a conspiracy laid out in his indictments, but they do reveal that Gates is accused of lying to the FBI during an interview earlier this month.

The court papers accuse Gates of lying about a March 19, 2013, meeting involving Manafort, a lobbyist and a member of Congress. Gates said the meeting did not include discussion of Ukraine, when in fact prosecutors say it did.

The charges don’t name the lobbyist or the lawmaker but filings with the Justice Department show Manafort and lobbyist Vin Weber of Mercury Public Affairs met with Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, R-Calif., on that date as part of an effort on behalf of Ukrainian interests.

Gates’ lawyers filed a motion this month indicating they had reached “irreconcilable differences” with him. His new lawyer, veteran Washington white-collar attorney Thomas Green, formally took over Thursday. Green did not respond to a request for comment Friday.

As Gates was kept on house arrest, he frequently pleaded with U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson for leniency to attend sporting events with his four children. His court filings gradually began to show the strain the case was placing on him and his family.

On Thursday night, Gates emailed a brief letter to friends and family, telling them of his decision to plead guilty, Republican lobbyist Jack Burkman said.

“It’s sad,” said Burkman, who had hosted a fundraiser for Gates’ legal defense fund.

Also Friday, Gates asked a judge’s permission to travel with his children to Boston for spring break so they could “learn about American history in general, and the Revolutionary War in particular.”

Depending upon the terms of his plea agreement, Gates could become a key cooperator for Mueller with intimate knowledge of Manafort’s years of political consulting work in Ukraine, as well as other events that have sparked the interest of federal investigators.

Gates had access at the highest levels of the campaign at the same time that Manafort, Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner met with a team of Russians in Trump Tower in June 2016. He was also in the top ranks of the campaign when then-Sen. Jeff Sessions held a pair of undisclosed meetings with Russian ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak.

For a few months in 2016, Gates was indispensable to Trump, leading the ground effort to help Trump win the Republican nomination and flying from state to state to secure Republican delegates in a scramble that lasted all the way until the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

But his power and influence waned once Trump fired Manafort in August 2016 after The Associated Press disclosed how Gates and Manafort covertly directed a Washington lobbying campaign on behalf of Ukrainian interests.

Gates survived his mentor’s ouster and worked through the election on Trump’s inaugural committee — but among Trump aides he earned the nickname “the walking dead.” Gates also worked briefly with the outside political groups supporting Trump’s agenda, America First Policies and America First Action, but was pushed out of that job last year.

Gates was working for Tom Barrack, a close friend of Trump’s, when he was indicted last October.</s>The court documents claim that Gates admitted to filing false paperwork with the Department of Justice (DOJ) between November 2016 and February 2017.

No sentencing date has been issued yet. Sentencing guidelines for the charges that Gates pleaded guilty to advise prison terms between 57 and 71 months. If Gates cooperates with the special counsel investigation into allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian actors, his sentence may be reduced. Gates is expected to cooperate with the probe, but has not formally announced it yet.

Gates was accused of defrauding the US of money that he and his business partner, Trump's short-lived campaign manager Paul Manafort, earned from their lobbying work. They were accused of lying on their income-tax returns, laundering money, and committing bank fraud to support lavish lifestyles in the US.

Manafort issued a statement after the indictment claiming he would maintain his not-guilty plea. "I continue to maintain my innocence," Manafort said. "I had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence. For reasons yet to surface he chose to do otherwise."

The guilty plea comes as no surprise, as a letter penned by Gates received by ABC News reveals he told his family he would plead guilty to some charges for their sake. "The consequence is the public humiliation, which at this moment seems like a small price to pay for what our children would have to endure otherwise," Gates allegedly wrote.

"The reality of how long this legal process will likely take, the cost, and the circus-like atmosphere of an anticipated trial are too much. I will better serve my family moving forward by exiting this process."

Gates and Manafort were both indicted in October 2017. Gates pleaded not guilty to the initial charges of conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, failing to file financial reports, not registering as a foreign agent, and making false statements.

On Thursday, he was charged with falsifying tax returns, bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and more charges of failing to file financial reports. All told, he is accused of laundering over $75 million.

The allegations were made by DOJ special counsel Robert Mueller, who was appointed in April to investigate allegations of collusion between Trump and Russian actors during the campaign. In the 10 months hence, Mueller has indicted four Trump campaign lieutenants, two other Americans, 13 Russian nationals, and three Russian LLCs — but none of the charges filed directly pertain to collusion. Moscow and the Trump campaign have both consistently denied any and all charges of collusion.</s>Rick Gates says he will cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller.</s>Transcript for SPECIAL REPORT: Former Trump aide Rick Gates formally pleads guilty to two counts

This is an ABC news special. George Stephanopoulos. Good afternoon for those you watching general hospital it will be played in its entirety after this break we do have breaking news now it's in the Russian investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller. And we have learned that the former deputy campaign chairman of the charm campaign Rick gates. He's going to court you see him right there and is now pleading guilty. To two counts of conspiracy and false statements in the Russia prohibit indicted. Charged with several counts of fraud conspiracy against United States money laundering and false statements but he is decided now. To cooperate with the special counsel plead guilty to two counts want to get all the details now from our Chief Justice correspondent Pierre Thomas. That's right George Rick case former deputy campaign manager for president fox election Barrett is today pleading guilty. Two counts first he's pleading guilty for engaging in a conspiracy to defraud the United States government by not reporting foreign bank accounts that could be taxed. And failing to register as a foreign agent for work on behalf of Ukrainian officials who had close ties to the creme. Gates is also pleading guilty to one Gallup count of lying to the special counsel about the nature worked on for those Ukrainian officials. The special counsel office claimed to gates engaged in this conspiracy what Paul meant upward from former campaign chairman. Metaphor has pleaded not guilty but now one of its principal business partners is set to be a cooperative. Cooperating witness for the special counsel some that it could have enormous implications for management and and Pierre under the under the dozens of charges he was facing. A before today's plea agreement he could have faced years and years. In prison what you expect now. Well he faced at least up to twenty years in prison hundreds some of those previous charges but by our calculations he's looking at somewhere maximum. Between four and seven years in prison and torture that that's the maximum that's not necessary the recommendation. The special counsel Robert Mueller exactly we expect a he's going to cooperate George. That could give him much more lenient time as well OK if you're thanks for much cleaner chief legal analyst Dan Abrams right now the big question. This agreement what did he give to Robert Mueller to get it. That's right because they wouldn't have made this deal and less they felt gates had something very important to offer them. And some people are saying out there we have this is so they can help get manna for. Or his former boss but Mueller already had right right and so so Mo or may not add needed gates for man for. So that's what leads to the really interest in question which is. What else might gates be able to offer he was there. Leading up to the election he was there during the transition. He may be able to help Mueller put some of these pieces together with regard to the collusion that is the fundamental. Part of this K. And now we have three top officials three officials in the campaign who have all cooperative note Robert Mueller you've got Mike Flynn. The former NASA screen version that George puppet topless foreign policy advisor Rick Kate brigades deputy campaign chairman. And each one of them are going to be offering information that the special counsel feels is important not in some minor issue. But you make these kinds of deals because the special counsel thinks that they can offer information they can testify against certain people. They can offer times and dates and phone calls that are relevant to this investigation and speaking about I think it's important to note. That one of the two counts that gates is pleading guilty to. Is a false statement made this month just a couple weeks ago for one flat while they were trying to negotiate this deal. Which shows you that they are saying he was lying to us even as we were trying to figure out this the. And now there's a real major development in the rush investigation. Much more tonight on world news of David Muir have a good afternoon. This has been a special. For meetings.</s>WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel files new charges against former Trump campaign adviser, Rick Gates, ahead of his expected plea.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>WASHINGTON, D.C. — A former top adviser to President Donald Trump’s election campaign has formally pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy and false statements charges in the special counsel’s Russia investigation.

The plea by Rick Gates is a strong indication that he is planning to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation as it continues to probe the Trump campaign, Russian election interference and Gates’ longtime business associate, Paul Manafort.

The 45-year-old Gates made the plea at the federal courthouse in Washington. It comes a day after Gates and Manafort were indicted in Virginia on new charges of tax evasion and bank fraud. Manafort, who is Trump’s former campaign chairman, has said he is innocent.</s>A former top adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump's election campaign pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges including conspiracy and making false statements, offences revealed during the special counsel's Russia investigation, and says he will now co-operate in the probe.

The plea by Rick Gates revealed that he will help special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation in "any and all matters" as prosecutors continue to probe the Trump campaign, Russian election interference and Gates's longtime business associate, Paul Manafort.
• Mueller files new charges against ex-Trump campaign chair Manafort, business associate

With his co-operation, Gates gives Mueller a witness willing to provide information on Manafort about his finances and political consulting work in Ukraine, and also someone who had access at the highest levels of the Trump campaign

Gates, 45, of Richmond, Va., made the plea at the federal courthouse in Washington. He admitted to charges accusing him of conspiring against the U.S. government related to fraud and unregistered foreign lobbying as well as lying to federal authorities in a recent interview.

Gates's plea came a day after a federal grand jury in Virginia returned a 32-count indictment against him and Manafort, Trump's former campaign chairman, accusing them of tax evasion and bank fraud.

The indictment in Virginia was the second round of charges against Gates and against Manafort, who has denied any wrongdoing. The two men were initially charged last October with unregistered lobbying and conspiring to launder millions of dollars they earned while working on behalf of a pro-Russian Ukrainian political party.

Gates's decision marks the fifth publicly known guilty plea in the special counsel probe into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin during the 2016 campaign.

The plea also comes quickly on the heels of the stunning indictment last week that laid out a broad operation of election meddling by Russia, which began in 2014, and employed fake social media accounts and on-the-ground politicking to promote Trump's campaign, disparage Hillary Clinton and sow division and discord widely among the U.S. electorate.

The charges to which Gates is pleading guilty don't involve any conduct connected to the Trump campaign. They largely relate to a conspiracy laid out in his indictments, but they do reveal that Gates spoke with the FBI earlier this month and lied during the interview. That same day, his attorneys filed a motion to withdraw from representing him for "irreconcilable differences."

The court papers accuse Gates of lying about a March 19, 2013, meeting involving Manafort, a lobbyist and a member of Congress. Gates said the meeting did not include discussion of Ukraine, when in fact prosecutors say it did.

The charges don't name the lobbyist or the lawmaker but filings with the Justice Department show Manafort and lobbyist Vin Weber of Mercury Public Affairs met with Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a Republican from California, on that date as part of a lobbying campaign on behalf of Ukrainian interests.

On Friday, Manafort said in a statement that he maintains his innocence.

"I had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence. For reasons yet to surface, he chose to do otherwise," Manafort said. "This does not alter my commitment to defend myself against the untrue, piled-up charges contained in the indictments against me."

In court filings over the past few months, Gates gradually began to show the strain the case was placing on him and his family.

As Gates was kept on house arrest, he frequently pleaded with U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson for leniency to attend sporting events with his four children. Even on Friday, ahead of his plea, Gates had asked the judge to let him take his children to Boston for spring break so they could "learn about American history in general, and the Revolutionary War in particular."

On Thursday night, Gates emailed a brief letter to friends and family, telling them of his decision to plead guilty, Republican lobbyist Jack Burkman said.

"It's sad," said Burkman, who had hosted a fundraiser for Gates's legal defence fund.

Under the terms of the plea, Gates is estimated to face between 57 and 71 months behind bars. Prosecutors may seek a shortened sentence depending on his co-operation.

Gates served on the Trump campaign at the same time that Manafort, Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner met with a team of Russians in Trump Tower in June 2016. He was also in the top ranks of the campaign when then-senator Jeff Sessions held a pair of undisclosed meetings with Russia's Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak.

For a few months in 2016, Gates was indispensable to Trump, leading the ground effort to help him win the Republican nomination and flying from state to state to secure Republican delegates in a scramble that lasted all the way until the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

But his power and influence waned once Trump fired Manafort in August 2016 after The Associated Press disclosed how Gates and Manafort covertly directed a Washington lobbying campaign on behalf of Ukrainian interests.

Gates survived his mentor's ouster and worked through the election on Trump's inaugural committee, but among Trump aides he earned the nickname "the walking dead." Gates also worked briefly with outside political groups supporting Trump's agenda, like America First Policies and America First Action, but was pushed out of that job last year.

Gates was working for Tom Barrack, a close friend of Trump's, when he was indicted last October.</s>Former Donald Trump campaign official Rick Gates will plead guilty Friday afternoon to two criminal charges in special counsel Robert Mueller's wide-ranging investigation of Russian meddling into the 2016 presidential campaign and related activities.
Rick Gates pleads guilty to charges of conspiracy against the United States and making false statements, and agrees to cooperate with the Special Counsel investigation.