McGonigal, one of Trump's top Russian collusion investigators, intends to plead guilty to colluding with Russia

Former FBI agent Charles McGonigal, one of the lead investigators in the plot that sought to link Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign to Russia, has asked the judge to change his plea to "guilty" for illegally working for a Kremlin-linked Russian oligarch accused of trying to interfere in the U.S. presidential election. Manhattan District Judge, Jennifer Reardon, issued an order setting a hearing for August 15 after receiving a request from McGonigal's lawyers to change his initial plea of "not guilty."

Trials in NY and Washington

In her order, the judge notes that "the court has been informed that defendant Charles McGonigal, may wish to change his plea" and set the hearing for August 15. McGonigal has two cases pending, one in New York, in which he faces four counts of corruption, including conspiracy to evade U.S. sanctions, money laundering, conspiracy to commit money laundering and conspiracy to violate federal law against doing business with sanctioned persons, in his case, Russian billionaire and oligarch Oleg Deripaska.

In the second trial, which takes place in Washington, he must answer for trying to hide the $225,000 he received from a businessman, as well as misleading the FBI about his contacts with foreign nationals and his travels abroad. In Washington's case, there is no indication that he will change his plea of innocence.

McGonigal worked for a Russian oligarch sanctioned by the State Department

Deripaska was included by the State Department in 2018 on the list of sanctioned persons. In his case, for his links with Russian President, Vladimir Putin and the attempt to interfere in the 2016 federal elections. McGonigal attempted to remove him from this of list, but was discovered, as recorded in the complaint by New York prosecutors against him.