Donald Trump

Manafort-Linked Accounts on Cyprus Raised Red Flag

Banking sources said Manafort closed the accounts after questions were raised about his ties to Russia

A bank in Cyprus investigated accounts associated with President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, for possible money-laundering, two banking sources with direct knowledge of his businesses here told NBC News.

Manafort, currently under scrutiny for his Russia ties, was associated with at least 15 bank accounts and 10 companies on Cyprus, the sources said. At least one of those companies was used to receive millions of dollars from a billionaire Putin ally, according to court documents.

After questions were raised, Manafort closed the accounts, the banking sources said. 

A spokesman for Manafort told NBC News in a statement that all the accounts were set up at the direction of clients in Cyprus, a common banking center for Russians and Ukrainians, "for a legitimate business purpose."

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