Political contributors linked to Giuliani probe in Ukraine arrested on campaign finance violations
Federal authorities were waiting for Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman at a Washington, DC area to arrest the pair for illegal political contributions. Both men have been linked to Rudy Giuliani's investigations of the Bidens in Ukraine.
NEW YORK CITY – Lev Parnas, an associate of Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani, said Monday he is willing to comply with the Democrat-led impeachment inquiry into the president, his attorney told Fox News.
“He will answer the subpoena to the best of his ability,” Joseph Bondy said, calling this a “stark deviation” from his previous position.
Bondy added that his client could possibly invoke his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination.
Parnas previously rejected requests for documents and testimony last month from three House committees looking into impeachment proceedings. It was not clear when Parnas would meet with impeachment investigators, who are looking into whether President Trump pressured Ukraine to investigate his political rivals, leveraging hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid.
BUSINESSMEN PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO CONSPIRING WITH GIULIANI ASSOCIATES
Lev Parnas makes a statement to the media following his arraignment in New York last month According to his attorney, Parnas is willing to cooperate with Congress in its impeachment inquiry. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)
Parnas and Igor Fruman pleaded not guilty two weeks ago to campaign finance charges connected to political donations to a pro-Trump super PAC. They are accused of using a limited liability company, Global Energy Producers (GEP), to make donations in American elections to advance the political interests of at least one Ukrainian government official.
Federal Election Commission records show GEP made $325,000 in donations to the pro-Trump super PAC America First Action in May 2018. Parnas, a Ukrainian-born American citizen, was a key figure in Giuliani's efforts to get dirt on Trump's rivals Joe Biden and his son Hunter.
BIDEN RAMPS UP ATTACKS ON WARREN, DISMISSES HER AS A FELLOW FRONT-RUNNER
Parnas and Furman were hired by Giuliani to try and persuade Ukrainian officials to investigate former Vice President and 2020 Democratic candidate Joe Biden and Hunter for possible corruption.
Bondy told Fox News he doesn't expect his client's cooperation to impact the federal charges against him in New York but hopes the government moves quickly.
Parnas “will comply with the subpoena with the extent that it does not conflict with any appropriate privilege that he may invoke,” Bondy, who along with Edward B. MacMahon, Jr. has represented Parnas, told Fox News.
His client's change of heart occurred after Trump denied knowing him or Fruman when they were arrested.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“Parnas was deeply disturbed to learn in jail while awaiting bail that the president was disavowing and claiming not to know him,” said Bondy, whose client has maintained that he has had extensive dealings with the president. Bondy pointed to multiple photos showing the men together.
The White House did not immediately comment.
Fox News' Ron Blitzer contributed to this report.
