Brennan Weiss

<p>At the moment, Michael Avenatti may be the most high-profile lawyer in America. The 47-year-old seasoned litigator has made headlines in recent months thanks to his famous client, porn star and director <a id="e3615bff-cb10-3395-adb2-97c5c49556a6" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-stormy-daniels-porn-star-affair-donald-trump-2018-1?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Stormy Daniels </a> .</p>

<p>Just days before the 2016 US election, President Donald Trump's personal lawyer <a id="bdbcb7ab-63e5-389b-a6cd-140eba128ae3" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/category/michael-cohen?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Michael Cohen </a> arranged a $130,000 payment to Daniels to keep her silent about an affair she allegedly had with Trump in 2006.</p>

<p>Avenatti has since sued the president, on Daniels' behalf, accusing Trump of invalidating a non-disclosure agreement, and of defaming Daniels. Avenatti says the violation allows Daniels to reveal her side of the story to the public, and in March, she started doing just that with a <a id="801ebc1b-9cc3-3679-a82b-4f31fe4bc221" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/stormy-daniels-60-minutes-interview-transcript-trump-2018-3?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  blockbuster "60 Minutes" interview </a> on CBS News.</p>

<p>Appearing on dozens of cable news shows, tweeting frequently, and often making claims that he has explosive information on people in the news, Avenatti has attempted to make himself a household name.</p>

<p>But in recent months, Avenatti has suffered a number of legal setbacks between a judge <a id="170e7401-53f4-33a4-a17b-d415749d0628" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-mocks-michael-avenatti-2020-presidential-election-stormy-daniels-2018-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  ruling against him and Stormy Daniels' in their defamation lawsuit against Trump </a> , being referred to the FBI on suspicion of submitting false statements to Congress, and being arrested on suspicion of domestic violence.</p>

<p>While the Los Angeles district attorney's office declined to press felony domestic violence charges against him, Avenatti decided to rule out a 2020 bid for the Presidency on Dec. 4.</p>

<p>Here's what you should know about Michael Avenatti:</p>

<h1> Avenatti graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996. Three years later, he received his JD degree from George Washington University. </h1>

<h1> During college and law school, Avenatti worked for The Research Group, a campaign research firm founded by Rahm Emmanuel, former President Barack Obamas chief of staff and the current Democratic mayor of Chicago. </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="95b910a6-b78f-31ec-a390-9f7041bdc48f" href="http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/August-1992/Rahm-Emanuel-during-the-Bill-Clinton-Years/">  Chicago Magazine </a></p>

<h1> After graduating law school, Avenatti worked at OMelveny &amp; Myers, a high-powered Los Angeles law firm. Over the course of his legal career, he has contributed to several high-profile cases involving Paris Hilton, Jim Carrey, and members of the rock band The Eagles. </h1>

<h1> At OMelveny &amp; Myers, Avenatti worked with Dan Petrocelli, the attorney who represented the family that sued OJ Simpson for murder. Simpson was found not guilty in 1995. </h1>

<p>Sources: <a id="ece41055-b53f-3926-a926-c376ced4289d" href="http://avenatti.com/bio/">  Avenatti </a> , <a id="5362ebbf-30a8-3d8e-a79c-50443796d2a9" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-oj-simpson-set-for-imminent-release-from-nevada-prison-2017-9?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a></p>

<h1> In 2007, he formed his own firm called Eagan Avenatti, where he has settled and won lucrative cases against the NFL and medical manufacturers Kimberly-Clark and Halyard Health, among others. </h1>

<h1> In 2013, Avenatti bought Tullys Coffee, a Seattle-based coffee franchise that had just gone bankrupt. </h1>

<h1> In March, a spokesman for Tullys said Avenatti no longer owned the company, but still served as its general counsel. The company then abruptly closed all its stores. </h1>

<p>Sources: <a id="549e30bc-a8d7-3acd-add5-4700e70a1143" href="https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2018/03/09/global-baristas-tullys-coffee-stores-coffee-gone.html">  Puget Sound Business Journal </a> , <a id="ce5ecc39-3d74-3971-aaa4-caa0ad7ff8f3" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stormy-daniels-lawyer-michael-avenatti-tullys-coffee-lawsuits-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a></p>

<h1> Avenatti is also an auto-racing fanatic. He has participated in numerous races around the US and in Europe. "Life is meant to be lived; there are no dress rehearsals," he told GW Law School magazine in 2010. </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="ee530181-260c-3c79-abed-4da0a16a4ba0" href="http://www2.gwu.edu/~magazine/archive/2010_law_winter/dept_philanthropy.html">  GW Law School </a></p>

<h1> One of Avenattis former law school professors witnessed his ambition up close. "He is an adrenaline junkie," Jonathan Turley, who taught Avenatti at GW Law, told The Washington Post. "I think he needs that adrenaline rush. He lives his life aggressively. In both litigation and in life he shows a certain aggressive style." </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="821d1f23-0503-3f82-abd3-af20b81ecb5b" href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/michael-avenatti-the-adrenaline-fueled-lawyer-taking-on-donald-trump/2018/03/25/3ef5cbdc-2e88-11e8-b0b0-f706877db618_story.html?utm_term=.a7d1e79f69d8">  The Washington Post </a></p>

<h1> Those words were proven true as Avenatti began making the rounds on cable news, giving interviews about Daniels case against Trump. </h1>

<h1> During an exchange on CNN in March, Avenatti excoriated Michael Cohen, Trumps personal attorney, repeatedly calling him a "thug." </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="0812cdc5-27a5-3861-a894-641ba51bfae1" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNWqrAhaLhM&amp;t=1s">  CNN </a></p>

<h1> In another theatrical performance, Avenatti held up a picture of Cohen on live TV, accusing him of "dodging questions" by refusing to talk to the media. </h1>

<h1> On April 17, Daniels appeared on "The View" to release a composite sketch of a man she said threatened her to keep quiet about her alleged affair with Trump. Avenatti said a $100,000 reward is waiting for correctly identifying the unknown man. </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="fdae137b-b2aa-3eb2-acf0-5334934c0d4f" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/stormy-daniels-releases-sketch-of-man-she-says-threatened-her-2018-4?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a></p>

<h1> Avenatti has been a thorn in Trumps side for years. While working at Greene Broillet &amp; Wheeler, a law firm in California, Avenatti helped sue Trump for allegedly stealing the idea of his hit reality TV show on NBC, "The Apprentice." </h1>

<h1> In a report titled "Project Sunlight" released May 8, Avenatti alleged that Cohen received $500,000 from a Russian oligarch shortly after the 2016 election, and claims that money may have served as a reimbursement for the payment to Daniels. </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="7311f01d-2c4f-3d00-a15b-fb48aae90696" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-michael-cohen-reimbursed-stormy-daniels-payment-avenatti-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a></p>

<h1> Avenatti released a statement in May saying that no political groups or "left wing conspiracy" were funding his legal battle against Trump and told critics to "get over it." </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="867944c7-d4f7-3cc7-ac2b-446ac7142893" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stormy-daniels-legal-fees-who-is-paying-michael-avenatti-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a></p>

<h1> But he has reportedly sought financial help from Democratic donors in his legal fight against Trump. Avenatti has insisted that the money has come from a crowdfunding campaign and not from Democrats. </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="1f53cc3f-2cd6-37a3-a3b4-532945b73f79" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-avenatti-sought-help-from-democrats-to-fight-trump-2018-6?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a></p>

<h1> In an interview with MSNBC in May, Avenatti revealed that he was working with at least two other women who claimed they had signed NDAs with Trump similar to the one Daniels had signed with Trump for hush money before the election. </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="174aca37-fc8f-3857-af29-3ea87c140718" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-avenatti-more-women-trump-affairs-cohen-stormy-daniels-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a></p>

<h1> Avenatti has also taken an adversarial approach to Daniels former lawyer, Keith Davidson. He claims Davidson did not work in her best interest and instead worked closely with Cohen and Trump. </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="d0ba33cd-42bc-35c0-aa8d-09389e74f676" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-avenatti-escalates-keith-davidson-stormy-daniels-trump-cohen-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a></p>

<h1> Avenatti claimed in May that Cohen was leaking to the press audio tapes seized in the FBI raids of Cohens apartment and office. He also argued that Cohen should have to turn over all conversations with Daniels former lawyer. </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="b3e8fe25-5eca-355a-a1e3-7ccba754c5d7" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-avenatti-michael-cohen-audio-tapes-trump-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a> / <a id="4df08cf4-9f50-384d-ac38-daee6638f22d" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-avenatti-escalates-battle-with-cohen-over-recordings-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a></p>

<h1> Avenatti attempted to appear in Cohens federal criminal case, but he eventually withdrew the motion in May. </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="42af819c-839d-377f-a648-4fc08aa86afb" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-cohen-setback-blocking-michael-avenatti-from-appearing-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a> / <a id="09fcb56c-be3b-3b82-a1a9-122e7bce329d" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-avenatti-cohen-case-trump-lawyer-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a></p>

<h1> In May, Avenattis law firm was handed down a $10 million judgment to reimburse a former attorney at the firm who Avenatti failed to pay $2 million that month. </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="b4d5f858-ee5e-3a27-aad4-dbe9e2afb647" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-avenatti-law-firm-stormy-daniels-media-coverage-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a></p>

<h1> Another person close to Trump who has drawn the criticism and ire of Avenatti has been Rudy Giuliani, who is now Trumps attorney. The two attorneys have had a war of words over the last few months. </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="df54cca0-5208-39e9-a557-638e4af3a497" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stormy-daniels-michael-avenatti-motion-trump-giuliani-take-stand-cohen-lawsuit-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a> / <a id="7804cd38-1f2a-308c-aa46-10f743cc165c" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rudy-giuliani-michael-avenatti-cohen-hearing-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a> / <a id="72f0ed07-dd40-3142-ac4c-d050d8f9b311" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-avenatti-trump-fire-rudy-giuliani-stormy-daniels-comments-2018-6?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a></p>

<h1> Trump reportedly doesnt pay "much attention" to Avenatti and thinks that Daniels lawyer is a "fool", according to Giuliani. </h1>

<p>Source: <a id="cd5a2f94-020d-35c5-aadc-b956dc2f6b4c" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rudy-giuliani-trump-michael-avenatti-thoughts-cohen2018-6?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Business Insider </a></p>

<h1> Avenattis adversarial approach to Trump has led many to speculate about his chances to run for president in 2020. He has been called a "hero" by the left for taking on Trump with his own rhetoric. </h1>

Meet Michael Avenatti, the high-profile lawyer and professional sports car driver who represents Stormy Daniels and has ruled out a 2020 presidential bid

<p>Since 2017, special counsel Robert Mueller has investigated Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, and whether the Trump campaign collaborated with Moscow to tilt the race in Trump's favor.</p>

<p>Since taking over the probe last May, Mueller's team has charged five Americans once affiliated with Trump's campaign or administration, 13 Russian nationals, 12 Russian intelligence officers, three Russian companies, and two other people.</p>

<p>Here's everyone who's been charged in the Mueller probe so far.</p>

<h1> Michael Cohen, Trumps former personal lawyer </h1>

<p>On Nov. 29, Trump's former personal lawyer and "right-hand man" Michael Cohen <a id="78928c8f-b3c1-36ca-a040-70eeb48a7451" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-cohen-reaches-new-plea-deal-with-mueller-report-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  pleaded guilty to making false statements to Congress </a> and reached a new plea deal with the special counsel.</p>

<p>Cohen pleaded guilty to lying about the dates during which the Trump Organization actively pursued a business deal to pursue a Trump Tower in Moscow, initially claiming the discussions ended in January 2016 when they in fact continued into the summer of the year.</p>

<p>Prosecutors from the special counsel's office also charged that Cohen lied to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in testifying that he had never offered to travel to Russia and that he didn't recall any response from the Russian government regarding the deal.</p>

<p>He is now expected to provide substantial cooperation, including dozens of hours of testimony, in the special counsel investigation.</p>

<p>In August, Cohen <a id="ca8e5ff0-d22a-3899-ad02-aec109959310" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-cohen-plea-deal-prosecutors-trump-2018-8?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  pleaded guilty in the Southern District of New York </a> to five counts of tax evasion, one count of bank fraud, one count of making an unlawful corporate contribution, and one count of making an illegal campaign finance contribution — which he said were made "at the direction" of Trump.</p>

<h1> Paul Manafort, former Trump campaign chairman </h1>

<p>Former Trump campaign chairman <a id="6de8e3eb-a13a-3c4b-a25b-74212e0a330a" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/paul-manafort-guilty-tax-bank-fraud-mueller-russia-2018-8?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Paul Manafort was found guilty on eight federal counts of bank and tax fraud </a> and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to obstruct justice and one count of conspiracy against the US.</p>

<p>He also entered into a deal that included an agreement to cooperate with Mueller's investigation instead of going to trial in the District of Columbia on a separate indictment of counts of money laundering and failing to register as a foreign agent.</p>

<p>Manafort previously faced a total of 18 counts, but the 10 remainingwere dismissed during the plea hearingafter a judge declared mistrial in a Virginia trial.</p>

<p>On Nov. 26, however, Mueller's office said in a court filing that in the course of his cooperation, <a id="f430789c-9ad2-3cfb-a272-3d57c950bfbe" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/paul-manafort-new-accusations-plea-agreement-mueller-russia-probe-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Manafort had lied to the FBI and the special counsel </a> on "a variety of subject matters," which could land him in even more legal jeopardy.</p>

<p>He <a id="4e33f534-9157-30e9-a460-d2eaf290e1bb" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/paul-manafort-trump-former-campaign-chairman-surrender-to-fbi-russia-investigation-2017-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  surrendered </a> to federal authorities on October 30, 2017, after he was indicted, along with his business associate Rick Gates, on 12 counts, including conspiracy against the US and money laundering.</p>

<p>Manafort was forced to step down as Trump's campaign chairman in May 2016 after coming under fire for his connections to Russian oligarchs and his past lobbying efforts abroad.</p>

<p>Trump's former campaign chairman is accused of committing crimes while working as an unregistered lobbyist in the US for the Ukrainian government and pro-Russia interests beginning in 2006.</p>

<p>Mueller <a id="b2bd9ef3-c633-3102-a10e-ca5c77a741be" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mueller-paul-manafort-konstantin-kilimnik-indictment-charges-2018-6?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  charged </a> Manafort's " <a id="1a113b0e-1d0d-3740-a783-820ee858409d" href="https://www.justice.gov/file/1070326/download">  right-hand man </a> " Konstantin Kilimnikin June with witness tampering in asuperseding indictment that charges the Russian citizen and Manafort with <a id="809ca6ab-c6b7-36e0-a2bc-f4d3c86819f2" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mueller-paul-manafort-konstantin-kilimnik-indictment-charges-2018-6?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  conspiracy </a> to obstruct justice and obstruction of justice.</p>

<p>Mueller <a id="9fb1b831-0e47-3d09-ae41-886ccbe36f7e" href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/nov/09/konstantin-kilimnik-russia-trump-manafort-mueller">  reportedly </a> began further investigation into Kilimnik in November with the help of three of his associates, including Manafort, to examine their political consultancy and lobbying work that connected them with prominent Russian oligarchs.</p>

<p>The special counsel has <a id="7d84a94f-7b03-3b79-a31e-f2ecf33c329e" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/06/world/europe/robert-mueller-kilimnik-ukraine-russia-manafort.html">  said </a> Kilimnik has strong ties from past work with Russian intelligence and was in contact with top figures in Trump's 2016 campaign.</p>

<h1> Rick Gates, one of Manaforts business partners </h1>

<p>In October 2017, Gates was indicted along with Manafort on 12 counts, including <a id="d976705c-1a90-3f80-a8f8-8a935c9984c9" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/conspiracy-against-the-united-states-paul-manafort-2017-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  conspiracy against the US </a> , making false statements, and failing to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. He at first pleaded not guilty on all counts.</p>

<p>Gates joined Trump election efforts in the spring of 2016, working as Manafort's deputy. He traveled with Trump and grew close with many top campaign officials.</p>

<p>After Manafort was ousted as Trump's campaign chief in August 2016, Gates continued working on behalf of the soon-to-be president, helping fundraise $25 million for the pro-Trump nonprofit America First Policies and working on Trump's inaugural committee. As Mueller's probe intensified in the early months of the Trump administration, Gates <a id="3d7e87a1-cc21-34e5-a133-d5ddd0069636" href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/03/23/politics/rick-gates-manafort-russia-ties/index.html">  left the nonprofit </a> altogether.</p>

<p>But as recently as June 2017, <a id="89a03915-15ab-327a-a67d-29c175a52236" href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/despite-russia-controversy-paul-manaforts-partner-is-still-lurking-around-the-white-house">  The Daily Beast reported </a> that Gates was still visiting the White House and working under Tom Barrack, who has remained one of Trump's most trusted advisers.</p>

<p>Gates opted to take a plea deal in late February, pleading guilty to one charge of lying to investigators and one charge of conspiracy in exchange for becoming a cooperating witness in the Mueller probe. Hetestified against Manafortas the prosecution's star witness in its case in Virginia.</p>

<p>Gates confessed to committing crimes with Manafort, and also <a id="ee995dab-c515-3b7f-a110-ab87d8585d27" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/rick-gates-admits-to-stealing-millions-from-paul-manafort-for-extramarital-affair-2018-8?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  stealing millions of dollars from his longtime business partner </a> to finance an extramarital affair.</p>

<p>Defense attorneys sought to paint Gates as the mastermind of his and Manafort's tax and bank fraud.</p>

<h1> George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign adviser </h1>

<p>On the same day Mueller's office announced the indictments of Manafort and Gates, it was revealed that <a id="ac941bf2-4b75-327f-af51-477fb62bb674" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-george-papadopoulos-trump-russia-2017-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  George Papadopoulos </a> , a 30-year-old former Trump adviser, had pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia.</p>

<p>After delivering seven hours of testimony to the House Judiciary and Oversight committees in October, Papadopoulos sought immunity before testifying to the Senate about Russian meddling and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.</p>

<p>According to documents that were unsealed by the Mueller investigation, Papadopoulos had <a id="77606ade-6070-38b3-a22a-9ca3eeb5c97d" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-george-papadopoulos-pleaded-guilty-fbi-russia-contacts-2017-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  made at least six attempts </a> to set up a meeting between the Trump campaign and Russian representatives throughout the course of the 2016 presidential campaign, using a London-based professor named <a id="54c7f6a1-2f55-34e7-ab48-a7c727060110" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/professor-joseph-mifsud-named-as-alleged-link-between-trump-and-russia-2017-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  Joseph Mifsud </a> and a female Russian national as conduits.</p>

<p>He was arrested October 5, 2017, and subsequently cooperated with Mueller's team. Papadopoulos is currently serving a 14-day prison sentence for lying to the FBI.</p>

<p>Trump has described Papadopoulos as a low-level volunteer.</p>

<p>"Few people knew the young, low level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar," Trump <a id="6537c894-ca04-35d6-ac4a-8f9ba56d00b2" href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/925335577217683456">  tweeted </a> following news of the guilty plea. "Check the DEMS!"</p>

<p>Special counsel Robert Mueller previously <a id="12d61c92-61b6-32b5-a20c-2b9e8165afab" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/robert-mueller-recommends-6-months-in-prison-for-george-papadopoulos-2018-8?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  recommended that Papadopoulos be sentenced to as many as six months in prison </a> .</p>

<h1> Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security adviser </h1>

<p>Flynn, who has <a id="faccd6d8-96b9-35c1-af24-3a39173ab91d" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/robert-mueller-michael-flynn-russia-investigation-lobbying-turkey-2017-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  reportedly </a> been at the center of Mueller's investigation for months, is perhaps the most high-profile person to be indicted to date.</p>

<p>On December 1, 2017, he pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI abouthis conversations last December with Russia's ambassador to the US at the time, Sergey Kislyak.</p>

<p>An <a id="93ac72f6-7535-3316-acab-2610ccb3a843" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/michael-flynn-charged-with-lying-to-fbi-about-conversations-with-russian-ambassador-2017-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  indictment filed </a> by Mueller's office said Flynn "falsely stated" on December 29, 2016 that he did not ask Kislyak "to refrain from escalating the situation in response to sanctions that the United States had imposed against Russia that same day," and that Flynn did not recall Kislyak "subsequently telling him that Russia had chosen to moderate its response to those sanctions as a result of his request."</p>

<p>Trump fired Flynn in February 2016, citing an "evolving and eroding level of trust" after the former national security adviser lied to Vice President Mike Pence about his interactions with Kislyak.</p>

<p>The firing was "not basedon a legal issue, but based on a trust issue," Sean Spicer, who was then the White House press secretary, said at the time.</p>

<p>Flynn had been on the job for just 25 days.</p>

<h1> 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies </h1>

<p>On February 16, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein <a id="05907b1a-8f06-3728-aedf-389d938d8b89" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoAf_I3ULwE">  announced </a> the indictments of 13 Russian citizens and three companies allegedly involved in meddling in the US political system.</p>

<p>"The defendants allegedly conducted what they called 'information warfare against the United States' with the stated goal of spreading distrust towards the candidates and the political system in general," <a id="8b130e0c-ff7d-34c1-a721-68cf918a3af7" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoAf_I3ULwE">  Rosenstein said </a> .</p>

<p>The charges focused on the Internet Research Agency (IRA), a notorious Russian "troll factory" that focused on sowing political discord during the 2016 US election by using internet bots to spread fake news and pro-Trump propaganda on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms.</p>

<p>Yevgeny Prigozhin, a prominent businessman and associate of President Vladimir Putin who helped fund the IRA, was charged along with two of his businesses.</p>

<p>The defendants included 12 other Russian citizens, all of whom were identified as former IRA employees who played a role in Russian influence operations before, during, and after the 2016 election.</p>

<p>They are: Mikhail Bystrov, Mikhail Burchik, Aleksandra Krylova, Sergey Polozov, Anna Bogacheva, Maria Bovda, Robert Bovda, Dzheykhun Aslanov, Vadim Podkopaev, Gleb Vasilchenko, Irina Kaverzina, and Vladimir Venkov.</p>

<h1> California businessman Richard Pinedo </h1>

<p>California resident Richard Pinedo pleaded guilty to one count of identity fraud on February 12, according to <a id="0722b682-1d04-3c62-a7e7-2614852b7093" href="https://www.justice.gov/file/1035547/download">  court documents </a> .</p>

<p>The plea deal's release came immediately after Mueller's office <a id="96e666b2-9847-3f90-aaf0-26a15eb01d00" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mueller-indicts-russians-for-interfering-in-2016-election-2018-2?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  announced charges </a> against 13 Russian nationals and three Russian entities accused of interfering in the 2016 US election by mounting an elaborate and multi-faceted social media influence operation meant to sow political discord during and after the race.</p>

<p>According to the statement of offense, Pinedo ran a company called "Auction Essistance," which offered services meant to get around the security requirements set by online payment companies like eBay, PayPal, and Amazon. Auction Essistance was shut down in December.</p>

<p>To help customers circumvent the security protocols set up by online payment websites, Pinedo created bank accounts on the internet using fraudulent identities and then sold those account numbers to Auction Essistance customers, the statement of offense said.</p>

<p>It added that although Pinedo was not directly involved in registering the accounts while using fake identities, "he willfully and intentionally avoided learning about the use of stolen identities."</p>

<h1> Alex van der Zwaan, a Dutch lawyer tied to Manafort and Gates </h1>

<p>Alex van der Zwaan <a id="62a63c16-3558-36ea-aecc-e87296dd356c" href="http://www.businessinsider.com/mueller-charges-alex-van-der-zwaan-russia-investigation-2018-2?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  pleaded guilty </a> on February 20 to one count of making false statements to federal investigators.</p>

<p>Van der Zwaan represents the interests of numerous Russian oligarchs. He is also the son-in-law of German Khan, the Ukrainian-Russian billionaire who controls Russia's Alfa Bank.</p>

<p>The institution attracted scrutiny last year, when a dossier published by former British spy Christopher Steele alleged that Alfa Bank had played a role in meddling in the 2016 US election.</p>

<p>Van der Zwaan was charged with "willfully and knowingly" making "false, fictitious, and fraudulent statements and representations" to federal investigators about his work for the law firm Skadden, Arps, Meagher, &amp; Flom LLP and Affiliates in 2012.</p>

<p>He was also accused of misleading federal investigators about his communications with Gates.</p>

<h1> 12 Russian intelligence officers </h1>

<p>On July 13, Rosenstein announced <a id="fd9cf762-343f-35b1-a102-5c38dbfbeea1" href="https://www.justice.gov/file/1080281/download">  the indictment </a> of <a id="8ccd17fa-0ec2-3812-ab6a-092f95cef2f0" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mueller-indictments-dnc-hacks-guccifer-roger-stone-2018-7?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  12 Russian intelligence officers </a> for the hacking of the Democratic National Committee before the 2016 US presidential election.</p>

<p>All 12 indicted are members of the GRU, Russia's military intelligence unit. The accusations against them include conspiring to interfere with the election by hacking computers, stealing documents, and releasing those documents with intent to interfere.</p>

<p>In early 2017, US intelligence identified the hacking of the DNC and the spreading of emails intended to hurt Democrats and the party's 2016 presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, as the main pillar of Russia's election interference campaign.</p>

<p>These charges represented the first time Mueller's office directly pointed a finger at the Russian government for interfering in the election.</p>

<p>Announced three days before Trump met with Putin in Helsinki, the indictments were a main point of contention between the press, lawmakers, and Trump, who did not directly confront Putin over the charges.</p>

<p>Originally stating that he didn't " <a id="f83cd83b-46e8-31e5-a795-d1722bebb60d" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-putin-press-conference-election-meddling-2018-7?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  see any reason why </a> " Russia would be responsible for the election meddling, Trump <a id="ac77c598-6033-3612-a020-d14956e87f92" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-putin-comments-helsinki-walkback-misspoke-2018-7?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">  corrected himself </a> a day later, adding he has "full faith" in US intelligence.</p>

<p>Bryan Logan contributed to an earlier version of this report. </p>

<ul><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/george-papadopoulos-lawyers-withdraw-from-representing-him-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">George Papadopoulos dumped by his own lawyers as the former Trump aide embarks on a 'self-defeating gambit'</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/paul-manafort-stalling-cooperation-with-mueller-trump-russia-matthew-whitaker-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Paul Manafort is reportedly hitting the brakes on cooperating with Mueller</a> </li><li> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-falsely-claims-mueller-probe-invalid-lack-of-senate-confirmation-whitaker-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest">Trump's new talking point about Mueller is 'flat out wrong,' legal experts say</a> </li></ul>

<p><strong> SEE ALSO: <span id="e9ae2851-16e6-3b3f-a389-18e290729ff1" itemtype="link" itemscope="itemscope">  Meet Robert Mueller, the former FBI director and tenacious investigator leading the Trump-Russia probe </span> </strong></p>

<p><strong> DON'T MISS: <span id="a57e6cbb-1106-325a-a565-0a44a8b7773a" itemtype="link" itemscope="itemscope">  Robert Mueller has reportedly begun drafting his final report in the Russia probe </span> </strong></p>

On November 29, President Donald Trump's long-time personal lawyer and "fixer" Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to making false statements to Congress regarding the dates of when President Donald Trump and the Trump Organization pursued a deal to build a Trump Tower in Moscow during the 2016 election.

Here's everyone who has been charged and convicted in Mueller's Russia probe so far

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Pulse Ghana is the most followed news and entertainment platform, informing and engaging young Ghanaians round the clock, providing updates by the hour.

Brennan Weiss

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Meet Michael Avenatti, the high-profile lawyer and professional sports car driver who represents Stormy Daniels and has ruled out a 2020 presidential bid

Here's everyone who has been charged and convicted in Mueller's Russia probe so far