Donald Trump's campaign chairman Paul Manafort's business dealings considered as potential leverage in Russia probe

Attorneys investigating Russia’s alleged election meddling see money laundering accusations levied against Donald Trump's campaign manager as a potential way to get him to cooperate with the investigation.

Sources with knowledge of the investigation say that developing a potential case against Paul Manafort could be key to getting him to cooperate in the probe into whether there was collusion between the campaign and Russian sources, according to Reuters.

They did not indicate whether money laundering evidence had been uncovered.

Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller’s team is taking a look at Mr Manafort’s financial and real estate records in New York. They’re also taking a look at his role in Ukrainian politics.

Mr Manafort bought three properties in New York between 2006 and 2013 — including one apartment in Trump Tower — and paid for them in full. He later took out mortgages on the properties. That kind of tactic can be used to attempt to keep the source of the cash secret, according to a former US law enforcement official. Reuters didn’t have any independent evidence showing that Mr Manafort had actually bought those properties with that intention.

It’s unclear if the investigators have that kind of information, either, but individuals with knowledge of the investigation say that it is seen as critical to fully fleshing out the investigation.

“If Mueller's team can threaten criminal charges against Manafort, they could use that as leverage to convince him to cooperate,” one source said.

Mr Manafort’s people said that the allegations are off the mark.

“Paul Manafort is not a cooperating witness. Once again there is no truth to the disinformation put forth by anonymous sources and leakers,” Jason Maloni, a lawyer for Mr Manafort said.

The news comes after it was discovered that Mr Manafort had attended a meeting alongside Donald Trump Jr, and Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kusher, at Trump Tower to get dirt on Hillary Clinton. An individual setting up the meeting noted in an email to Mr Trump Jr that the dirt was being made available as a part of the effort on behalf of the Russian government to support Mr Trump’s campaign.

The White House and Mr Trump Jr say that it was appropriate to take the meeting, and that they did not receive the promised damaging intelligence on Ms Clinton.

Whatever the case, the Mueller investigation appears to be taking concerns that the meeting indicates collusion seriously. Following reports of the meeting, investigators requested that the White House retain any and all documents between the Trump campaign and Russia.