Special counsel Robert Mueller’s prosecutors are recommending up to six months in jail for George Papadopoulos for lying to investigators. Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in October 2017 to making false statements to investigators.
Mueller’s team suspect Papadopoulos was a key part of Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign staffer, lied to the FBI in January 2017 after his contact Joseph Mifsud — known as the professor in London — told him the Russians had “dirt” on Hillary Clinton. Federal authorities found Mifsud in Washington two weeks later, but allowed him to leave the country.
“The defendant’s lies undermined investigators’ ability to challenge the Professor or potentially detain or arrest him while he was still in the United States,” prosecutors wrote. “The defendant’s false statements were intended to harm the investigation, and did so.”