House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., told reporters Monday, "this is what Bob Mueller was tasked to do," regarding the indictment of Paul Manafort and his business partner Rick Gates.
The Justice Department in May appointed Mueller as special counsel to investigate whether there was any coordination between Donald Trump's campaign team and the Russian government as part of the Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Manafort, who once chaired Trump's campaign, was indicted Monday by a federal grand jury for tax crimes, money laundering, conspiracy and lying to the FBI, along with longtime business associate Gates, who also worked for the Trump campaign. Both turned themselves into the FBI and were put on house arrest after they pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The indictment says the two Americans controlled $75 million in slush funds, buying tailored suits, cars and antiques. Manafort is alleged to have laundered more than $18 million. Gates is alleged to have transferred more than $3 million to accounts he controlled.
The indictments are the first since former FBI Director James Comey launched the investigation over a year ago. Mueller took over after Comey was forced out.
"I haven't read the indictments. I haven't read the specific details of the indictment but that's how the judicial process works," added Ryan.
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