A lawyer has been charged with making false statements to the investigation looking into Russian interference in the 2016 US election.

Alex Van Der Zwaan is accused by US Special Counsel Robert Mueller of misleading investigators about communications with political consultant and lobbyist Rick Gates.

Mr Gates was deputy to Paul Manafort who was campaign manager of the Donald Trump presidential campaign in 2016.

The indictment also accuses Mr Van Der Zwaan of deleting or otherwise not producing emails sought by the Special Counsel's office.

Mr Van Der Zwaan will appear in the US District Court in Washington on Monday afternoon local time to enter a plea.

Mr Manafort and Mr Gates were indicted in October last year as part of Mr Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the election.

Both men were charged with 12 counts of conspiracy against the United States, making false statements, money laundering and failing to register as foreign agents for Ukraine.

The charges arose from consultant work for a pro-Russian government in Ukraine.

They both pleaded not guilty, with Mr Manafort released on $10m bond and Mr Gates released on $5m bond and placed under house arrest as they were deemed a flight risk.

On February 15 Gates finalised a plea deal with Mr Mueller's office, indicating he will cooperate in the election investigation.

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It is not known if Mr Gates' cooperation has led to Mr Van Der Zwaan's indictment.

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