Lobbyist did not register as agent for Ukraine

WASHINGTON — A business associate of a key figure in the investigation into former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort pleaded guilty Friday to failing to register as a foreign agent.

W. Samuel Patten entered his plea in federal court in Washington, shortly after prosecutors released a four-page charging document that accused him of performing lobbying and consulting work in the United States for Ukraine but failing to register as a “foreign agent” as required by the Justice Department.

Patten was a business associate of Konstantin Kilimnik, a man U.S. authorities have said has ties to Russian intelligence.

Kilimnik worked closely with Manafort, who was found guilty this month of eight financial counts. Kilimnik also is a codefendant in a pending case against Manafort in Washington, brought by special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, that accuses them both of witness tampering.

The Patten case was referred by Mueller’s team to the United States attorney’s office in Washington. Andrew Weissmann, one of the lead Mueller team lawyers in the Manafort prosecution, was seen at court Friday.

Court papers don’t refer to Kilimnik by name, but say Patten worked with a Russian national on lobbying and political consulting services.

The goal, prosecutors say, was to influence U.S. policy, but they say Patten never filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The law is aimed at promoting transparency about lobbying.

Patten’s plea agreement requires him to co-operate with the government.