Three former Trump campaign advisers have been charged in the special counsel investigation into possible Russian influence in U.S. political affairs.
Former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his business associate Rick Gates entered initial pleas of not guilty on Monday. It was revealed that George Papadopoulos, an adviser to Trump's campaign pleaded guilty in earlier this month as part of an agreement with special counsel Robert Mueller III's office.
Manafort and Gates specifically were indicted by a federal grand jury Friday on 12 charges, including conspiracy against the U.S.
Speaking at a press conference in Indianapolis on Monday, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie — who serves as an adviser to the president — said while he was not expecting anything, he could not say he was surprised either.
He said it was clear when federal law enforcement did a no-knock search warrant in July that it was not a good sign.
But he said now Manafort and Gates will have the opportunity to make their case.
"In this country people are innocent until proven guilty," Christie said.
He said he would have been more surprised if Manafort and Gates had not been charged, after the no-knock search warrant.
Christie said he had not been in contact with President Trump at all on Monday regarding the matter.
