Russian TV presenter charged with violating US sanctions and money laundering

Dimitri Simes, who had contacts in Donald Trump's orbit, charged as White House targets Kremlin influencers before US presidential elections

US investigators have indicted a prominent Russian state television personality and his wife for violating sanctions and for money laundering as the White House targets Kremlin influence operations before the US presidential election.

Dimitri Simes, a television presenter and producer for Russia's state-owned Channel One, was charged with receiving more than $1m (759,000) in compensation, a personal car and driver and a stipend for a flat in Moscow, despite the television station's designation as sanctioned in 2022 by the US's Office of Foreign Assets Control. He and his wife, Anastasia, were charged with money laundering to hide the proceeds of his work for Channel One.