As it happened - first charges in Russia inquiry

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Ukrainian lawmaker Serhiy Leshchenko - who helped to expose the "black ledger" which appeared to show secret payments to Manafort made by former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych - called the charges against Manafort "great news".

"I’m very much satisfied, because Manafort was involved in high-level corruption in Ukraine," he told Radio Free Europe.

"He helped one of the most corrupt persons in the world to be elected president," he said, referring to Manafort's work as an adviser to the former Ukrainian president.

The so-called "black ledger", first reported by the New York Times, led to Manafort's resignation in August 2016 from the Trump campaign.

A judge has placed both Manafort and Gates under house arrest pending their next court hearing on 2 November.

Manafort's bond has been set at $10m and Gates' at $5m.

Both men have pleaded not guilty to all 12 criminal charges.

A lawyer for Paul Manafort has just emerged from the courtroom in Washington, where he repeatedly described the charges against his client as "ridiculous".

Kevin Downing said the government is using a "very novel theory" of the Foreign Agents Registration Act to prosecute his client.

"There is no evidence that Manafort colluded with Russian government," he told reporters gathered outside the courthouse.

Manafort and Gates are due back in court on 2 November.

Former FBI director James Comey, who recently confirmed his not-quite-secret Twitter account, appeared to post a pointed tweet following today's revelations.

A spokesman for Rick Gates has just given a statement saying that his client "welcomes the opportunity to confront these charges in court".

During the court hearing, Gates was represented by a public defender, who typically represent suspects who are unable to afford a lawyer.

Gates' spokesman Glenn Selig condemned the indictment, saying it was "designed to accommodate perhaps political and press considerations rather than his right to have counsel of his choice by his side during this most troubling and challenging day for him and his loved ones."

"This fight is just beginning," Selig added.

The BBC's Rajini Vaidyanathan and Anthony Zurcher break down all the latest in the Trump-Russia saga.

Revelations that Papadapoulos was arrested in July raises questions about how long he has co-operated with authorities.

White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders calls him "a volunteer member of an advisory council that literally met one time".

That one meeting with the president took place last March, says Sanders, adding that nothing came of it.

Sarah Sanders is asked about President Trump's judgement in involving Paul Manafort and Rick Gates in his 2016 campaign.

"These were seasoned operatives, you make it sound like they were regular offenders in massive amounts of trouble," she says.

When asked if today's revelations will distract from the president's domestic agenda, she says: "We're not worried about it distracting because it has nothing to do with us."

Sarah Sanders says she has had no conversations with President Trump about possible pardons for Paul Manafort or Rick Gates, if they are convicted.

"Let the process play through," she says.

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White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders says Trump has no plans to replace Special Counsel Robert Mueller.

"There is no intention or plan to make any changes in regards to the special counsel," she says.

"The real collusion scandal as we've said several times before has everything to do with the Clinton campaign, Fusion GPS, and Russia."

A lobbyist for the Democratic party, Tony Podesta, is stepping down from the company he founded, according to Politico.

The lobbying firm is being investigated by special counsel Robert Mueller.

Mr Podesta's brother, John, was Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman.

Tony Podesta's firm was hired by Paul Manafort to lobby on behalf of an organisation that was seeking to burnish the image of Ukraine's president.

According to US media, Mueller's investigators are examining whether Podesta's firm adhered to the Foreign Agents Registration Act, under which those who lobby on behalf of foreign governments must submit full disclosures to the Justice Department.

Sarah Sanders says the former foreign policy adviser's role was "extremely limited".

Papadopoulos was in a "volunteer position" and "no activity was done in an official capacity".

Mr Sekulow tells CNN he is "completely convinced" there was no Russian collusion and no obstruction.

"I'm not concerned about this at all and no one else is either," he says.

He adds there is no plan to fire Robert Mueller, the special counsel. "The president is not interfering," he says.

"I don't think anyone is surprised this indictment came down today," Mr Sekulow says. "We've expected this for months."

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"Deceit, craft or trickery": What exactly is conspiracy against the United States?

Here's a statement from George Papadopolous's lawyers.

Papadopolous has pleaded guilty to making false statements to FBI agents concerning Russian involvement in the 2016 US election.

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