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Gregory Craig, who was charged this afternoon with lying to US authorities, is the first prominent Democrat to face criminal prosecution as a result of Mueller’s investigation. He was charged in relation to his work alongside Paul Manafort for pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine.

Craig is charged with giving false information to the justice department officials who regulate work in the US by lobbyists, lawyers and other representatives of foreigners under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (Fara). He is also charged with concealing details of his work from the same officials.

He and his law firm, Skadden Arps, worked in 2012 for Ukraine’s ministry of justice. Manafort, a veteran Republican operative, meanwhile worked as a consultant to Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine’s pro-Kremlin president, who was later ousted.

Craig and Skadden produced a report to help the Yanukovych government defend its prosecution of a former Ukrainian prime minister, which critics said had been politically motivated. Craig also coordinated public relations work to boost the government’s image.

Gregory Craig. Photograph: Pablo Martínez Monsiváis/AP

Craig wanted to avoid registering as a foreign agent in order to protect his ability to work in the US government in the future, according to the indictment, and so Skadden could avoid disclosing the $4m it was secretly receiving for its work from a wealthy Yanukovych backer.

When Skadden was asked by the Fara unit for information on its Ukraine work, the firm submitted a response signed by Craig that failed to disclose Craig’s contacts with US media on behalf of Ukraine as part of a public relations strategy.