Mr Gates’ plea deal with federal investigators could also mean that he’s prepared to testify against his co-defendant Mr Manafort, US president Trump’s former campaign chair, in a blow to Mr Manafort’s defence, the New York Times has reported.

According to the Post, with a guilty plea, Mr Gates — who reportedly has been hammering out a plea deal with prosecutors over the last couple of weeks — hopes to protect his family both emotionally and financially from a potentially lengthy criminal trial, a source told the Times.

Mr Gates would likely face a lesser prison sentence in exchange for his co-operation.

Mr Manafort and Mr Gates, who served as Mr Trump’s deputy campaign chairman, initially were charged in a 12-count indictment last October as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe.

The two business partners are accused of tax and bank fraud related to their work for a pro-Russia Ukrainian political party and for failing to tell FBI agents they were working as lobbyists for a foreign government.

They are accused of laundering more than $75 million they received for their lobbyist work through various offshore accounts and spending the money on lavish purchases.

Mr Gates stayed on with the Trump campaign after Mr Manafort was fired in August 2016. He served as liaison between the campaign and the Republican National Committee and travelled on Mr Trump’s plane through Election Day, the newspaper reported.

Federal investigators announced additional charges against Mr Gates and Mr Manafort on Thursday.

A trial date has not yet been set.

Mr Gates’ plea is expected today.

This article first appeared in the New York Post and is republished with permission.