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Jimmy Williams
The U.S. government has indicted Dimitri Simes, a Russian-born U.S. citizen and former adviser to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, on charges of working for a sanctioned Russian state television network and laundering over $1 million in proceeds.
His wife, Anastasia Simes, was also charged as part of the scheme. The Department of Justice announced the indictments on Thursday, revealing that the couple received funds from Russia’s Channel One since June 2022, despite sanctions imposed on the network due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“These defendants allegedly violated sanctions that were put in place in response to Russia’s illegal aggression in Ukraine,” U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves said in a statement. “Such violations harm our national security interests — a fact that Dimitri Simes, with the deep experience he gained in national affairs after fleeing the Soviet Union and becoming a U.S. citizen, should have uniquely appreciated.”
Simes, 76, and his wife, Anastasia, 55, are believed to have relocated to Russia, though they own a home in Virginia. In addition to receiving over $1 million in funds, the couple allegedly enjoyed perks such as a personal car and driver, which were also part of their work for Channel One.
The charges come amid rising concerns about renewed Russian efforts to interfere in U.S. elections, including online disinformation campaigns and propaganda. Just a day before the Simes indictment, federal authorities charged two employees of another Russian media organization, RT, for covertly funding a U.S. company to produce pro-Russian content.
Dimitri Simes was previously scrutinized during special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Simes led the Washington think tank, the Center for the National Interest, and was involved in several interactions with Trump’s team. One such instance detailed in the Mueller report involved Simes providing talking points about Russia to Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, ahead of a meeting, as well as passing along derogatory information about Bill Clinton to campaign representatives.
Although Simes was never charged during the Mueller probe, his think tank played a key role in organizing a foreign policy speech at Washington’s Mayflower Hotel, where Trump was introduced by Simes. Present at the event was then-Russian Ambassador to the U.S., Sergei Kislyak. Following the release of the Mueller report, Simes defended his actions, stating, “I did not see anything in the Mueller report that would indicate any questionable activity on my part or on the center’s part.”
Anastasia Simes is facing charges related to her connections with sanctioned Russian businessman Alexander Udodov. Udodov, the former brother-in-law of Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, has been implicated in money laundering schemes and has ties to senior Russian government officials.
If convicted, Dimitri and Anastasia Simes could face up to 20 years in prison. The case underscores the ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to curb foreign interference in American elections and enforce sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
