The new documents, if legitimate, stem from business ties between the Trump aide, Paul Manafort, and the party of former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, who enjoyed Moscow's backing while he was in power. The latest documents were released after the House Intelligence Committee questioned FBI Director James Comey about possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Moscow. The hearing that also touched on Manafort's work for Yanukovych's party in Ukraine. Manafort, who worked for Yanukovych's Party of Regions for nearly a decade, resigned from Trump's campaign in August after his name surfaced in connection with secret payments totalling US$12.7 million by Yanukovych's party. Yanukovych's party has been accused of ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly through wealthy oligarchs from the country's east with interests in both Russia and Ukraine.

Source: New Zealand Herald March 21, 2017 19:18 UTC