Former Trump Adviser Faces Serious Charges Over Alleged Legal Breach

Former Trump adviser Dimitri Simes has been indicted for allegedly breaching U.S. sanctions and money laundering.

At a Glance

US investigators have indicted Dimitri Simes and his wife for violating sanctions and money laundering.
Simes received substantial compensation from Russia’s sanctioned Channel One.
Anastasia Simes allegedly illicitly purchased and managed art and antiquities for a sanctioned Russian oligarch.
The couple faces up to 20 years in prison per count if convicted and are thought to be in Russia.

Details of the Indictments

The Justice Department has charged Dimitri Simes, former adviser to Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, with working for a sanctioned Russian state television network, Channel One, and laundering proceeds. Simes and his wife, Anastasia, allegedly engaged in actions that violated U.S. sanctions and went against national security interests.

Dimitri Simes allegedly received over $1 million in compensation, a personal car and driver, and a stipend for a flat in Moscow from Channel One, which was sanctioned by the U.S. government in 2022. Channel One is a state-owned broadcaster, and its payments to Simes have raised considerable concerns about compliance with U.S. sanctions.

⚡️Commentator for Russian state TV charged with violating US sanctions.

Dimitri Simes, once an adviser to former President Trump, works for Channel One Russia, a state-run television station sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department in May 2022.https://t.co/04QCLgfJnm

— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) September 6, 2024

Anastasia Simes’ Alleged Role

Anastasia Simes has also been indicted on charges of violating sanctions. She is accused of purchasing art and antiquities for sanctioned Russian oligarch Aleksandr Udodov and storing these items in Virginia before shipping them to Russia. These actions contribute to the broader effort to evade sanctions and secure financial benefits for the Russian elite.

“These defendants allegedly violated sanctions that were put in place in response to Russia’s illegal aggression in Ukraine,” the US attorney Matthew Graves said in a statement. “Such violations harm our national security interests—a fact that Dimitri Simes, with the deep experience he gained in national affairs after fleeing the Soviet Union and becoming a US citizen, should have uniquely appreciated.”

The couple, facing up to 20 years in prison for each count if convicted, fled the US for Russia following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The charges have significant implications, underscoring the serious legal consequences for violating international sanctions.

The Justice Department on Thursday charged former Trump 2016 campaign adviser Dimitri Simes with violating U.S. sanctions against Russia.

Story: https://t.co/Pj87d9Kw3V pic.twitter.com/yKKhOBVJhp

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) September 6, 2024

Broader Implications and Background

These indictments spotlight the intricate web of influence and sanctions evasion. The case of Dimitri Simes, who also played a role during Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US elections, amplifies concerns about ongoing foreign interference and the effectiveness of sanctions enforcement.

“I did not see anything in the Mueller report that in any way that would indicate any questionable activity on my part or on the center’s part,” Simes stated in defense of his actions.

These developments come amid rising concerns about Russian efforts to influence upcoming US elections through disinformation and propaganda. Federal authorities recently charged two employees of the Russian media organization RT with covertly funding a company in Tennessee to produce pro-Russian content.