A new CNN report claims that Senate investigators are seeking a longtime associate of President Donald Trump who could potentially shed light on Trump's efforts to conduct business in Russia.
Multiple sources tell CNN that investigators are trying to get in touch with David Geovanis, a Moscow-based American businessman who arranged for Trump to travel to Russia in 1996 to begin the process of potentially building a Trump Tower in the Russian capital.
"Two witnesses who have given evidence to the Senate Intelligence Committee say they were asked about Geovanis' past relationship with the President during interviews last year," CNN reports. "The interviews were conducted by staff working for both the Republican and Democratic sides of the committee, according to the sources, who wish to remain anonymous due to the confidential nature of the Senate inquiry."
The CNN report notes that Geovanis has worked for the Russian aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska, who also has a long history with former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. During the 2016 presidential campaign, Manafort even reportedly offered to give Deripaska private briefings about the state of Trump's campaign.
CNN also cites testimony from a third witness who "has alleged in written testimony... that Geovanis may be valuable in the mystery of whether Russia has material on Trump that could be personally embarrassing to him."
