By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood said accusations outlined in the indictments against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and two former aides need to be taken very seriously.
The Peoria Republican told news partner WMBD-TV during a visit to an agricultural training facility on Monday the charges have no ties to the president.
“When you look at money laundering, you look at concealing foreign assets, lying to the FBI, these are serious charges,” LaHood explained. “But when I look at the indictments today, I don’t see any connection to voter fraud or election fraud or anything connected to the Trump administration.”
LaHood said he’s confident justice will be served. He says Robert Mueller needs the discretion to do his job and follow the evidence where it leads. He also says Mueller needs to closely investigate all avenues brought to light.
Former federal prosecutor Pat Brady said the indictments don’t prove any collusion with Russia in the run up to the 2016 U.S. presidential election, but he told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin it appears special prosecutor Robert Mueller is just getting started.
PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with Brady on WJBC .
“We’re not there (proving collision) yet, but just watching this time line out it was just fascinating what Mueller laid out yesterday,” Brady said.
Brady, now a Republican party consultant, said the more startling revelation was the guilty plea from a former Trump campaign adviser who has admitted to lying to the FBI. Brady says based on the indictment he believes advisor George Papadopoulos may have been wearing a wire in conversations with campaign associates.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
