Prosecutors said the chairman, Stephen M. Calk of Federal Savings Bank, pushed the bank to give Mr. Manafort $16 million in loans in 2016 in exchange for help in procuring an appointment. Just after the election, Mr. Calk, 54, had sent Mr. Manafort a list of 10 positions he wanted, including Treasury secretary, commerce secretary and defense secretary, according to the indictment unsealed in Federal District Court. At the time, Mr. Manafort was trying to stave off foreclosure on several properties and desperately needed capital, the indictment said. Mr. Manafort, who had left the campaign in August, made two calls on Mr. Calk’s behalf in late 2016 to officials on Mr. Trump’s transition team, urging them to appoint Mr. Calk secretary of the Army, the indictment said. In the end, Mr. Calk was interviewed in January 2017 for a job as under secretary of the Army, but was not hired.

Source: New York Times May 23, 2019 14:32 UTC