Now, bro of Rudy crony told to talk

Federal prosecutors in New York have subpoenaed the brother of one of the Rudy Giuliani cronies charged in a sweeping pro-Trump campaign finance scheme, according to a report Friday.

The subpoena of Steven Fruman marks a significant escalation in the ongoing investigation into Igor Fruman and fellow Giuliani pal Lev Parnas. Igor Fruman and Parnas played prominent roles in Giuliani’s Trump-endorsed effort to dig up dirt on Joe Biden and other Democrats in Ukraine before the 2020 election — a scandal that’s at the heart of the ongoing House impeachment inquiry.

Sources told CNN that federal agents visited Steven Fruman’s New York home and served him with a subpoena at some point after his brother’s arrest at a Virginia airport on Oct. 9.

It’s unclear what specifically prosecutors want from Steven Fruman. He’s listed in business filings as the vice president of Westchester County-based FD Import & Export, which Igor Fruman also helped run.

In addition to the Steven Fruman subpoena, investigators have reportedly carried out several property searches in recent weeks. In one instance, federal agents blew the door off a safe to get a hold of records, the sources said.

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan declined to comment. An attorney for Igor Fruman did not immediately return a request for comment.

Igor Fruman and Parnas pleaded not guilty during an appearance in Manhattan Federal Court on Wednesday.

Prosecutors said in that hearing they’re sifting through a “voluminous” cache of evidence that includes 50 bank accounts, emails, texts, cellphones and other electronic devices.

According to sources, investigators are also looking at Giuliani’s business dealings with Parnas and Fruman as part of their criminal inquiry. Giuliani — who used to run the very U.S. attorney’s office he’s now being investigated by — has not been charged with any crimes and maintains he did nothing wrong.