Gates spokesman: ‘This fight is just beginning’

A spokesman for Richard Gates said the fight is “just beginning” after Gates pleaded not guilty to charges from special counsel Robert Mueller.

In a statement, Gates’s spokesman, Glenn Selig, said Gates “welcomes the opportunity to confront these charges in court.”

Gates — a former business associate of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort — does not plan to comment further until he is able to review the indictment with his legal team, his spokesman said.

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“In the meanwhile, he would appreciate you respecting his and his family’s privacy as they weather this unexpected and hasty proceeding designed to accommodate perhaps political and press considerations rather than his right to have counsel of his choice by his side during the most troubling and challenging day for him and his loved ones,” Selig said in a statement.

“This fight is just beginning.”

BREAKING: Rick Gates spokesman: “This fight is just beginning.” pic.twitter.com/hS7MHkvwR8

— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) October 30, 2017

Both Manafort and Gates on Monday pleaded not guilty to charges from Mueller.

The charges are related to work done by Manafort and Gates on behalf of a pro-Russia political party in Ukraine.

Mueller alleges they were paid tens of millions of dollars for the work and then laundered the money “in order to hide Ukraine payments from United States authorities.”

Gates was ousted from the pro-Trump group America First Policies in April.

The White House said Monday that President Trump does not plan to fire Mueller in response to charges brought against his former campaign aides.