Dear Commons Community,

Various media are reporting that Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, along with one of Manafort’s former business associates were told to surrender themselves to federal authorities this morning.  

The  New York Times is reporting that Manafort and Rick Gates mark the first indictments in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether President Donald Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia in the 2016 election.  As of this writing, it’s not clear what charges both men will face.

According to NBC News, Manafort left his home in Virginia at 7:45 a.m. in a black SUV.

Manafort has been under investigation for money laundering and failing to disclose he lobbied on behalf of a foreign government.

Mueller has been conducting the investigation since May, casting a shadow over Trump’s first year in office.

Mueller has interviewed key Trump campaign and White House aides to determine whether there was collusion and, if so, whether there was an attempt to cover it up.

Trump lashed out on Twitter after news that indictments were coming broke, trying to deflect eyes to Hillary Clinton.

There will be a media frenzy today and for the next couple of days as details emerge on these developments.

Tony