Former Trump Adviser Charged with Laundering Funds for Russian State TV Network

Washington, D.C. – Federal prosecutors have charged Dimitri Simes, a Russian-born U.S. citizen and former adviser to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, with illegally working for a sanctioned Russian television network and laundering the earnings. According to indictments released Thursday by the Department of Justice, Simes and his wife, Anastasia Simes, allegedly received more than $1 million in payments and were provided a personal car and driver for services rendered to Channel One, a Russian state-owned network sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022 due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Simes, 76, who previously headed a Washington-based think tank that advised Trump’s campaign, and his wife, Anastasia, 55, are currently believed to be in Russia. However, they also have a residence in Virginia.

A second indictment names Anastasia Simes as a recipient of funds from sanctioned Russian oligarch Alexander Udodov, who was targeted by U.S. sanctions in 2023 for his backing of the Russian government.

Dimitri and Anastasia Simes could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Information courtesy of the Associated PressBy The Midtown Times Staff, Source: AP News