- An accused Russian agent invited Donald and Ivanka Trump to a 2016 Russian Forum, prosecutors say.
- According to prosecutors, there is no evidence that either of the Trumps showed up to the event.
- Elena Branson is accused of running a Russian propaganda center in New York for almost 10 years.
An accused Russian agent tried to set up a meeting with former President Donald Trump or his daughter Ivanka Trump ahead of the 2016 presidential election, federal prosecutors say.
Elena Branson, 61, is a dual Russian and US citizen accused of founding and running a Russian propaganda center — fully funded by the Russian government — in New York City for 10 years, according to press release from the US District Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York.
She has been charged with acting illegally and accused of failing to register as a foreign agent with the US government.
In a criminal complaint filed on Tuesday, federal prosecutors also allege that Branson tried to meet with Donald Trump and Ivanka Trump to March 2016 and invited them to the Russia Forum New York in April of that year.
According to court documents, federal prosecutors say an unnamed Russian minister asked her to organize this meeting.
In a message to Donald Trump, she wrote if his "busy schedule will not permit your attending our forum, perhaps you can suggest one of your children ... who have followed in your footsteps," to attend in his place, prosecutors allege in court documents.
Prosecutors said there is no evidence Donald or Ivanka Trump attended Branson's meeting.
According to prosecutors, Brandon avoided registering under the Foreign Agents Registration Act for almost 10 years while she ran the propaganda center.
Prosecutors say she received tasks and funding from Russian government officials to promote Russian ideals in the United States.