Sam Patten, an American lobbyist, pleaded guilty today to failing to register as an agent of a foreign power and disclosed to prosecutors that he helped a Russian political operative and a Ukranian businessman illegally purchase four tickets to President Trump’s inauguration.
Patten agreed to cooperate with prosecutors as part of his plea agreement. He could provide prosecutors insight into a range of activity and individuals relevant to the special counsel investigation, as well as connections between Trump, his associates and Russia.
Prosecutors disclosed that the inauguration tickets were worth $50,000 and were purchased with funds that flowed through a Cypriot bank account. Prosecutors did not name the foreigners involved. However, the tickets were purchased for Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian political operative believed to have ties to a Russian intelligence agency, and a Ukranian oligarch.
Foreigners are not allowed to contribute any money to the organization that runs presidential inaugurations. According to federal documents, Patten misled the Intelligence Committee several times and intentionally withheld documents that could have revealed the foreign purchase of the tickets.
Details disclosed in the plea agreement were the latest reminder of the far-reaching effects of the investigation by the special counsel, Robert Mueller, into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Trump has called the special counsel investigation a “witch hunt” and “rigged.”
Patten has worked in the same world as Paul Manafort, who was recently convicted of financial fraud and is scheduled to go on trial in September over different charges.