FBI raids homes linked to Russian oligarch

FBI agents on Tuesday raided homes in Washington D.C. and New York City linked to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, a metals tycoon with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin... and to Paul Manafort, the one-time campaign manager for former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Members of the FBI's Evidence Response Team carried boxes out of the D.C. mansion in one of Washington's wealthiest neighborhoods and towed away a vehicle.

The FBI also confirmed "law enforcement activity" at the home in New York City's Greenwich Village neighborhood but declined further comment.

The specific reason for sealing off and searching the homes was not immediately clear, and an FBI spokesperson did not provide details. A representative for Deripaska said the two homes belonged to relatives.

The 53-year-old Russian billionaire has been under U.S. sanctions since 2018 along with several other influential Russians because of their ties to the Kremlin after alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Deripaska - who owns part of Rusal, one of the world’s largest aluminum conglomerates - sued to have the U.S. sanctions lifted but his case was dismissed in June.

The U.S. Treasury Department also targeted several of his companies, including Rusal. Washington later dropped those sanctions but kept them on Deripaska.

Deripaska once employed Paul Manafort, who was convicted in 2018 on tax evasion and bank fraud charges and was among the central figures scrutinized under investigations of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

In December of 2020 - his last full month as president - Trump pardoned Manafort.