Russian Influence

Omali Yeshitela, chairman of the St. Petersburg-based Uhuru Movement, and two others face charges of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. and failing to register with the Justice Department as agents of a foreign government.

Omali Yeshitela, Jesse Nevel and Penny Hess spoke out against charges they worked as "Illegal Agents of the Russian Government."

Among those four charged is Omali Yeshitela, chairman of the St. Petersburg-based Uhuru Movement.

Prosecutors say the man targeted a political group, worked with an unnamed candidate for local office in 2017, offering campaign finance, and interfered with elections in 2019. Representatives from Uhuru movement say the FBI raided their center Friday.

The longtime GOP consultant and self-described "dirty trickster" was indicted on charges of obstruction, making false statements to Congress and witness tampering. He says he has done nothing wrong.

Paul Manafort's business partner Rick Gates has become the center of the defense's case. They say he is behind the financial crimes Manafort is accused of. Gates is expected to testify this week.

Committee Chairman Bob Corker was blunt in his opening statement, telling Pompeo that "in the summit's aftermath, we saw an American president that was submissive and deferential" toward Russia.

The security of the midterm vote is a question that's coming up again after President Trump's press conference with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, where Trump seemed to doubt Russia interference.

"Russia attempted to interfere with the last election and ... it continues to engage in malign influence operations to this day," Christopher Wray said at a national security forum.

Russian influence-mongers appear to have created a number of fake local news Twitter accounts — and spent years posting real headlines.