Manafort’s secret ‘Putin’ essay link

WASHINGTON — Prosecutors working for special counsel Robert Mueller say Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has been working on an Op-Ed essay with a longtime colleague “assessed to have ties” to a Russian intelligence service.

Court papers say Manafort sought to publish the Op-Ed under someone else’s name and intended it to influence public opinion about his work in Ukraine. The piece was being drafted as late as last week while Manafort is under house arrest.

Prosecutors did not name the colleague but noted the person is based in Russia and argued the judge presiding over his case should consider the revelation while deciding his bail.

Manafort is facing money laundering charges involving his political consulting work in Ukraine for pro-Vladimir Putin candidates.