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While Davis was building the political connections with the oligarch, he was handing off the commercial side of the relationship to [[Paul Manafort]], his longtime lobbying partner. Manafort came to work on the commercial side for Deripaska through Davis.

While Davis was building the political connections with the oligarch, he was handing off the commercial side of the relationship to [[Paul Manafort]], his longtime lobbying partner. Manafort came to work on the commercial side for Deripaska through Davis.

U.S intelligence raised concerns to McCain's staff about the Davis Manafort work. McCain’s office also was warned about possible Russian military connections to one of his policy advisers at the International Republican Institute (IRI), a think tank which McCain chairs. In 2005, McCain’s inner circle was encouraged to distance itself from the adviser, causing aides to scramble to separate Deripaska from McCain.  

U.S intelligence raised concerns to McCain's staff about the Davis Manafort work. McCain's office also was warned about possible Russian military connections to one of his policy advisers at the International Republican Institute (IRI), a think tank which McCain chairs. In 2005, McCain's inner circle was encouraged to distance itself from the adviser, causing aides to scramble to separate Deripaska from McCain.  

In 2006, Davis and Manafort arranged two meetings with McCain and Deripaska. The first occurred in January 2006 in [[Davos]], Switzerland.

In 2006, Davis and Manafort arranged two meetings with McCain and Deripaska. The first occurred in January 2006 in [[Davos]], Switzerland.

Deripaska showed up by McCain a second time, during an official trip to [[Montenegro]], another place where the Davis-Manafort firm was offering advice. Deripaska and Davis joined McCain and other officials at a dinner hosted by the country’s government in August 2006, and some of the attendees went on to take a cruise aboard a yacht where drinks and pastry were served in honor of McCain’s 70th birthday.

Deripaska showed up by McCain a second time, during an official trip to [[Montenegro]], another place where the Davis-Manafort firm was offering advice. Deripaska and Davis joined McCain and other officials at a dinner hosted by the country's government in August 2006, and some of the attendees went on to take a cruise aboard a yacht where drinks and pastry were served in honor of McCain's 70th birthday.

Deripaska’s visa to travel to the United States had been blocked by the State Department because of concerns about his ties to Russian businesses and government. The U.S. embassy in Moscow monitored Deripaska’s business dealings during the time, reporting back to Washington they believed the oligarch was close to Putin.

Deripaska's visa to travel to the United States had been blocked by the State Department because of concerns about his ties to Russian businesses and government. The U.S. embassy in Moscow monitored Deripaska's business dealings during the time, reporting back to Washington they believed the oligarch was close to Putin.

{{Quotebox|“Deripaska enjoys a favorable relationship with [[President Putin]] -- he is a more or less permanent fixture on Putin's trips abroad, and he is widely acknowledged by our contacts to be among the 2-3 oligarchs Putin turns to on a regular basis,”}} one 2006 cable from the Moscow embassy to Washington declared.

{{Quotebox|“Deripaska enjoys a favorable relationship with [[President Putin]] -- he is a more or less permanent fixture on Putin's trips abroad, and he is widely acknowledged by our contacts to be among the 2-3 oligarchs Putin turns to on a regular basis,”}} one 2006 cable from the Moscow embassy to Washington declared.

The oligarch’s visa controversy dragged on for years and reached the highest levels of both governments. A February 2008 State Department cable released by WikiLeaks shows that Putin was so concerned about the matter that he had then-Russian Deputy Foreign Minister [[Sergey Kislyak]] lobby then U.S. Ambassador to Moscow William Burns to try win Deripaska’s entry to the United States. "Kislyak parried with a demand for more information on the U.S. refusal to issue Oleg Deripaska a visa. Ambassador said he had already provided our response,” the cable said. Putin eventually dispatched Kislyak to be his ambassador in Washington.

The oligarch's visa controversy dragged on for years and reached the highest levels of both governments. A February 2008 State Department cable released by WikiLeaks shows that Putin was so concerned about the matter that he had then-Russian Deputy Foreign Minister [[Sergey Kislyak]] lobby then U.S. Ambassador to Moscow William Burns to try win Deripaska's entry to the United States. "Kislyak parried with a demand for more information on the U.S. refusal to issue Oleg Deripaska a visa. Ambassador said he had already provided our response,” the cable said. Putin eventually dispatched Kislyak to be his ambassador in Washington.

In 2018, Manafort plead guilty to money laundering and tax evasion schemes he was involved in while employed by John McCain.<ref>[https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4883168-Manafort-DC-Superseding-Criminal-Information.html#document/p1 Item 7, Manafort plea deal].</ref>

In 2018, Manafort plead guilty to money laundering and tax evasion schemes he was involved in while employed by John McCain.<ref>[https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4883168-Manafort-DC-Superseding-Criminal-Information.html#document/p1 Item 7, Manafort plea deal].</ref>