Washington (CNN) Greg Craig, the top lawyer in President Barack Obama's White House, pleaded not guilty Friday afternoon and was released on personal recognizance, following his indictment for allegedly making false statements to US authorities about his work for Ukraine alongside Paul Manafort.

On the same day Sam Patten, another Manafort-linked lobbyist, was sentenced to probation in court, the Craig arraignment highlights a recent push by the Justice Department to root out illegal lobbying.

It's also yet another criminal prosecution to grow out of Robert Mueller's special counsel probe, and specifically the investigation into Manafort.

Craig, 74, is accused of lying to the Justice Department about contracting with Ukrainians for a $4 million "independent" report about the then-Ukrainian president's political opponent, then discussing the repot's release with journalists.

Prosecutors allege that Manafort orchestrated the public relations campaign for Ukraine's then-in-power political party.

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