Article snippet: Attorney Alex Van Der Zwaan pleaded guilty on Tuesday to making false statements to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team in the ongoing probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Van Der Zwaan, a 33-year old Dutch citizen, allegedly made the false statements to officials with the special counsel and FBI agents in an interview on Nov. 3, 2017. The felony charge is punishable by up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson indicated that a finding of guilt could result in Van Der Zwaan’s deportation. The judge indicated both sides have agreed to recommend a reduced prison sentence of up to six months and a reduced fine of between $500 and $9,500, saying Van Der Zwaan has no criminal history. The special counsel’s office said in their court filing that Van Der Zwaan, who worked for a law firm that did work in Ukraine in 2012, made false statements about communications in 2016 with Gates and an unnamed person. While Gates was never a client of Van Der Zwann’s according to a source with knowledge of the relationship, the two were connected because of Gates’ past work representing the Ukraine government on behalf of his former boss Paul Manafort. The communication, prosecutors allege, took place when Gates was still a member of the Trump campaign team. Manafort left the campaign in mid-August, Gates stayed on through the election. Gates is currently facing criminal charges from the special couns... Link to the full article to read more