House Intel Dem visits Cyprus for Russia probe

Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) says he visited Cyprus this week as part of the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.

“Cyprus has a reputation as a laundromat for the Russians who are trying to avoid sanctions,” Quigley told The Daily Beast Friday about his four-day trip to the Mediterranean country. 

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“It was extraordinarily helpful in understanding how the Russians launder money and why,” he added.

“The fact that Turkey, the U.S. and Russia and other countries are really interested in Cyprus, because of its strategic location … the fact that Russians launder their money there to avoid sanctions, and the fact that key U.S. and Russian players were there – all make it really important for the Russia investigation.”

Quigley did not explain what information he was exploring in Cyprus.

Reports emerged last month that Paul Manafort, President Trump’s former 2016 campaign manager, had bank accounts in Cyprus that were investigated for possible money laundering.

Manafort closed the accounts after questions were raised about some of the accounts’ transactions, NBC News reported at the time, citing two banking sources.

The former Trump aide was reportedly associated with at least 15 bank accounts and 10 companies on Cyprus dating back to 2007. A spokesman for Manafort told NBC the accounts “were legitimate entities and [were] established for lawful ends.”