Ex-FBI agent in Russia collusion probe may change plea to charges he aided Russian oligarch

Former FBI agent Charles McGonigal may change his plea from not guilty next week on charges of allegedly violating U.S. sanctions by working with a Russian oligarch, according to the judge in the case.

Federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York indicted McGonigal on five counts in January related to services he allegedly provided to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, whom McGonigal investigated for the FBI over the since-discredited allegations that the Trump 2016 campaign colluded with Russia.

A court filing Monday from U.S. District Judge Jennifer Rearden states: "The Court has been informed that Defendant Charles McGonigal may wish to enter a change of plea." She also scheduled a plea proceeding to take place Aug. 15 in federal court in New York.

McGonigal previously pleaded not guilty to the five charges as well as the federal charges brought against him by the U.S. Attorney for D.C. for allegedly concealing $225,000 in cash from a person who worked for the Albanian intelligence service.

McGonigal had been released on a $500,000 personal recognizance bond in January and the judge restricted his travel and prohibited him from speaking to anyone connected to the case, ABC News reported at the time.

Regarding the case in D.C. federal court, McGonigal's attorney Seth DuCharme told the judge overseeing those charges last week at a hearing that there was a "decent chance the case is going to be resolved" without a trial, but it will be more clear after Labor Day, according to CNN. 

The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee opened an investigation into McGonigal in February.

Deripaska is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and was sanctioned in 2018. He was accused of violating the sanctions in September 2022.

Additionally, documents obtained by Just the News last year show that while first son Hunter Biden was participating in business dealings in Russia, he asked for an intelligence and risk analysis report on Deripaska.

Follow Madeleine Hubbard on Twitter or Instagram.