HOPE MANAFORT WILL AID PROBE

WASHINGTON — U.S. investigators examining moneylaundering accusations against President Trump’s former campaign manager hope to get him to cooperate with their probe into possible collusion between Trump’s campaign and Russia, two sources with knowledge of the investigation say. Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team is examining Paul Manafort’s financial and real estate records in New York and his involvement in Ukrainian politics, the officials said. Between 2006 and 2013, Manafort bought three New York properties, including one in Trump Tower in Manhattan. He paid for them in full and later took out mortgages. “If Mueller’s team can threaten criminal charges against Manafort, they could use that as leverage,” one source said. Manafort spokesman Jason Maloni said his boss “is not a cooperating witness.”