Two former Trump aides under house arrest

Last updated: October 31, 2017 at 7:50 am

Two former aides to Donald Trump have been placed under house arrest following a sharp escalation in the FBI's investigation into Russian meddling during the US election.

At a federal court in Washington, the President's former campaign manager Paul Manafort pleaded not guilty to charges including conspiracy against the US, conspiracy to launder money and of being an unregistered agent of a foreign country.

The 68-year-old's former business associate and deputy campaign manager Rick Gates also entered not guilty pleas to the same charges.

Manafort could potentially face 80 years in prison if found guilty, while Gates could face up to 70 years.

Both would also face millions of dollars in potential fines if convicted on all counts.

A condition of Manafort's house arrest is an unsecured bond of US$10m, with Gates' bond set at US$5m.

The special council argued that Manafort was a flight risk with "significant ties abroad".

White House: No link to charges

The next status hearing for both men has been scheduled for 2 November - and their court appearance on Monday came shortly after they handed themselves in to the FBI.

This latest development in the Russia investigation significantly ratchets up the pressure on those in the orbit of Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

Manafort's lawyer, Kevin Downing, claimed outside the courtroom that there is no evidence that his client had colluded with the Russian government.

He told reporters that Manafort had represented pro-EU campaigns for the Ukrainians and had sought to further democracy but those activities ended in 2014 - two years before Manafort served in Trump's campaign.

The White House has also attempted to distance itself from charges against Manafort, saying the alleged crimes happened years earlier.

White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders has told reporters: "It doesn't have anything to do with us."

Pressed on whether the allegations indicate poor judgement on the part of President Trump, she said: "I don't believe so."

Instead, Huckabee Sanders said there was "clear evidence of the Clinton campaign colluding with Russia".

Following Monday's charges, President Trump tweeted: "Sorry, but this is years ago, before Paul Manafort was part of the Trump campaign.

"But why aren't Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus?????"