Lobbyist admits brokering access to Trump inauguration

A US lobbyist has admitted brokering access to President Donald Trump’s inauguration for pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians in a scheme that highlighted the rush by foreign interests to influence the new administration.

As part of a plea agreement under which he pledged to cooperate with federal prosecutors, Sam Patten pleaded guilty to failing to register as a foreign agent for a Russia-aligned Ukrainian political party, and to helping a Ukrainian oligarch who funded that party illegally purchase four tickets to Trump’s inauguration.

Although the charges were not brought by the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, Robert Mueller, they stem from his team’s work, and overlap substantially with its continuing investigation, suggesting Patten could be a useful witness.

The case sketched out by prosecutors encompassed Patten, a respected Republican operative and consultant whose family was once part of Washington’s social elite; money transfers from a Cypriot bank; and a Russian national who had also worked for Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign manager, and been accused of maintaining ties to Russian intelligence.

The charges also represented the first public acknowledgment that prosecutors are looking into efforts by foreign interests to funnel money into Trump’s political operation, including his inaugural committee.

WASHINGTON: