The Audio/Video industry plays a $2.2 million role in the first trial resulting from the investigations of Robert Mueller, US special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
![Manafort trial](http://www.ftp-sgpartners.net/tdceu/uploads/uploaded/Manafort trial2.JPG)
Prosecutors allege Paul Manafort, once President Trump’s campaign chairman, failed to pay taxes on $60 million he made to get Russia-friendly Viktor Yanukovych elected as President of the Ukraine.
Four years later, as Yanukovych turned away from the EU to Russia, in February 2014, Ukrainians took to the street in a revolution. Yanukovych had to flee (to Russia, of course) and the Ukraine still wants him for high treason. After Yanukovych bolted, with Russian influence in Ukraine waning, Putin gave the order for Russian troops to invade and occupy key Crimean locations, including airports and military bases. Russia formally annexed this seaside part of the Ukraine.
Paul Manafort was at the center of this, being paid handsomely to help install a pro-Russian government. And the fall-out created an international incident where Western countries including US slapped penalties on Russia, angering Putin and leading to the famous Russian intervention in the US election.