FBI investigates Russian-linked Cyprus bank accused of money laundering [View all]
Source: The Guardian
The FBI has asked officials in Cyprus for financial information about a defunct bank that was used by wealthy Russians with political connections and has been accused by the US government of money laundering, two sources have told the Guardian.
The request for information about FBME Bank comes as Cyprus has emerged as a key area of interest for Robert Mueller, the US special counsel who is investigating a possible conspiracy between Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign and the Kremlin.
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One person familiar with the FBI request said it appeared to be connected to Muellers ongoing examination of Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign manager who was indicted in October, and money that flowed between former Soviet states and the US through Cypriot banks.
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Bloomberg reported last week that FBME was the subject of two US investigations: one into the banks credit card unit, and another into alleged laundering of money from Russia. Bloomberg said the Russia-related investigation, which is being led by the US attorneys office in New York, was connected to a flow of illegal Russian funds into the New York real estate market.
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/24/fbi-investigates-russian-linked-cyprus-bank-accused-of-money-laundering
Manafort
and New York real estate - a juicy holiday present for the Trump and Kushner families ...