A former top FBI official involved in the investigation of alleged ties between the Trump campaign and Russia has been criminally charged for his suspected ties to Russia.
Prosecutors say that Charles McGonigal, while serving as the top counterintelligence officer at the FBI's New York Field Office, conspired to violate U.S. sanctions against Russia by taking secret payments from Russian oligarch and oil tycoon Oleg V. Deripaska.
In exchange, McGonigal tried to get Deripaska taken off the U.S. sanctions list.
McGonigal retired from the FBI in 2018. He was arrested on Saturday at New York City's JFK Airport following a trip from Sri Lanka.
As ABC News reports:
McGonigal, 54, is charged with violating U.S. sanctions by trying to get Deripaska off the sanctions list. McGonigal is one of the highest ranking former FBI officials ever charged with a crime.
McGonigal and Shestakov, who worked for the FBI investigating oligarchs, allegedly agreed in 2021 to investigate a rival Russian oligarch in return for payments from Deripaska, according to the Justice Department. McGonigal and Shestakov are accused of receiving payments through shell companies and forging signatures in order to keep it a secret that Deripaska was paying them.
Both face money laundering charges in addition to charges for violating sanctions. Each of four counts carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
“The FBI is committed to the enforcement of economic sanctions designed to protect the United States and our allies, especially against hostile activities of a foreign government and its actors,” FBI Assistant Director in Charge Michael Driscoll said in a statement. “Russian oligarchs like Oleg Deripaska perform global malign influence on behalf of the Kremlin and are associated with acts of bribery, extortion, and violence.”
After leaving the FBI, McGonigal worked for Deripaska directly, making $42,000 a month.
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They should have charged Peter Struk and his girlfriend years ago. Coney too!
Yes, they should have been prosecuted years ago but I doubt they will ever be prosecuted, ever. Traitors were suppose to go to jail .
Traitors are not supposed to “go to jail.” They are supposed to be tried, convicted, sentenced, and put to death.
Probably arrested because he didn’t give a percentage of his take to the FBI director.
He also forgot the 10% for the Big Guy.
Director Wray is complicit in all the crap that goes on, so arrest him too!
Good, now let’s go after Christopher Wray, James Comey, Peter Strock, Lisa Page, and MOST of the other FBI management for the last 50 years.
Don’t allow him to continue to steal a pension from the taxpayers either! Why isn’t he being charged for Treason? Amazing how we are becoming more and more lenient with letting “officials” launder corrupt money from our “enemies” all around the world. Actually unconstitutional for any government employee who swore an oath to protect our Constitution! But it’s ok for “them”.
Hmmm.. why now? This is just a deflection to get the story off Biden
They will quietly move him to ANOTHER government position where he is out of sight, no doubt–that is how the conniving Demmunists roll. It is practically IMPOSSIBLE to get rid of these VERMIN, no matter WHAT acts of treason they have committed!
In the end, they’ll all get a raise and a promotion.
Ain’t modern American politics wonderful???
So, turns out like always–this conniving Demmunist toady was accusing Pres. Trump of what HE was actually doing–colluding with Russia! What a surprise, said nobody, EVER!