Two Trump Allies, Seeing Unlimited Opportunity, Instead Drew Scrutiny
By Kenneth P. Vogel, Mark Mazzetti, Maggie Haberman and David D. Kirkpatrick
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/24/us/politics/rick-gates-elliott-broidy-trump-payments.html?action=click&module=Top Stories&pgtype=Homepage
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After the inauguration, Mr. Gates began receiving monthly consulting payments for help navigating the new administration from a company headed by Mr. Barrack, Colony NorthStar, which paid Mr. Gates $20,000 a month, and one owned by Mr. Broidy, which paid Mr. Gates $25,000 a month, according to documents and people familiar with the relationships, who requested anonymity to discuss private business arrangements.
The payments came despite the fact that Mr. Gates and Mr. Manafort were emerging as subjects of federal and congressional investigations looking into their lucrative Ukraine work, and any connections between the Trump campaign and Russia.
Other Washington consultants were puzzled by the willingness of clients to hire Mr. Gates or Mr. Manafort at a time when it seemed that the looming investigations would limit their effectiveness and access to Mr. Trumps advisers, some of whom had tried to bar Mr. Gates from working with the administration. Mr. Gates maintained at least some access, in part because he was seen as having the blessing of Mr. Barrack, a close friend and business associate of Mr. Trumps, according to a Trump associate.
But when Mr. Gates was indicted in October, Mr. Trumps allies began to further distance themselves. Colony NorthStar quickly terminated its arrangement with Mr. Gates, according to someone familiar with it.
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