Former FBI Official Arrested For Taking Money From Putins Ally

A former F.B.I. counter-intelligence official was arrested for money laundering offences and connections to a Russian oligarch.

What Happened: Federal prosecutors, in an indictment on Monday, said Charles McGonigal violated U.S. sanctions by taking secret payments from Russian businessman and Vladimir Putin's allly Oleg Deripaska, to investigate a rival, reported The New York Times.

"This is an unprecedented case, which rightly or wrongly will fuel political criticism and concern about the F.B.I.," said a former prosecutor in the Justice Department's national security division, Jonathan C. Poling.

"The charges demonstrate D.O.J. clearly intends to send a strong message, including to former officials that worked in national security fields," he added.

The report added that McGonigal was also arrested on charges relating to his alleged acceptance of a $225,000 cash payment from a former Albanian intelligence officer during his time as special agent in charge for counter-intelligence at the F.B.I..