The lobbyist, Sam Patten, worked for a pro-Russia Ukrainian political party, the same one that employed Paul Manafort.
Back in late August:
âThe lobbyist, Sam Patten, pleaded guilty to failing to register as a foreign agent for a Russia-aligned Ukrainian political party, and to helping the Ukrainian oligarch who had funded that party [probably Serhiy Lyovochkin] illegally purchase four tickets to Mr. Trumpâs inauguration. ... Mr. Patten arranged for the purchase of four tickets for $50,000 by funneling the oligarchâs money through an American âstrawâ purchaser in violation of rules barring the inaugural committee from accepting money from foreign nationals. Mr. Patten intentionally withheld documents from the Senate Intelligence Committee that could have revealed that foreign money was used to purchase the tickets.â
This was after Paul Manafortâs fraud conviction, but before Manafort entered into his plea deal. Why is the timing relevant? Because Pattenâs guilty plea also implicated Manafort:
âThe case sketched out by prosecutors encompassed Mr. Patten, a respected Republican operative and consultant whose family was once part of Washingtonâs social elite; money transfers from a Cypriot bank; and a Russian national [probably Konstantin V. Kilimnik] who had also worked for Paul Manafort, Mr. Trumpâs former campaign manager, and been accused of maintaining ties to Russian intelligence. The charges against Mr. Patten also represented the first public acknowledgment that prosecutors are looking into efforts by foreign interests to funnel money into Mr. Trumpâs political operation.â
But at least Patten felt bad about undermining democracy by putting foreign interests above those of his own country:
âIn a Facebook post, Mr. Patten said he deeply regretted his failure to register as a foreign agent and was âashamedâ that he had undermined much of his lifeâs work.â
