Hugo Lowell for The Guardian

New York prosecutors expanded criminal inquiry of company last year and examined acceptance of $8m with suspected Russian ties

Federal prosecutors in New York involved in the criminal investigation into Donald Trump’s social media company last year started examining whether it violated money laundering statutes in connection with the acceptance of $8m with suspected Russian ties, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The company – Trump Media, which owns Trump’s T***h Social platform – initially came under criminal investigation over its pr********ns for a potential merger with a blank check company called Digital World (DWAC) that was also the subject of an earlier investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Towards the end of last year, federal prosecutors started examining two loans totaling $8m wired to Trump Media, through the Caribbean, from two obscure entities that both appear to be controlled in part by the relation of an ally of Russian president Vladimir Putin, the sources said.

Take THAT, he said, showing the Judge an unbiased and dispassionate anti-Hillary YouTube video from the internet on the Court's big video screen. Clearly, anyone would soon know her obvious guilt.

"See, Judge, it must be true, look what I found on the Internet! This has been vetted by thousands of thumbs-ups from Republicans who swear it's the real deal, so what more proof do you need? This deserves to go to Court! Lock her up!"

Let me know when the indictments are issued, eagleye, and I'll provide the popcorn.