Trial against banker who loaned $16 million to Paul Manafort underway; Anthony Scaramucci set to testify Thursday

A former Chicago bank executive is on trial in Manhattan for allegedly taking bribes from onetime Donald Trump campaign Chairman Paul Manafort, hoping to trade loans for a high-ranking position in the presidential administration.

Stephen Calk, the former chairman and CEO of The Federal Savings Bank first indicted in 2019, is on trial for charges of financial institution bribery and conspiracy to commit financial institution bribery.

Calk allegedly awarded Manafort $16 million in corrupt loans using The Federal Savings Bank as his “personal piggy bank,” federal prosecutor Alexandra Rothman alleged in her opening statement Wednesday.

Prosecutors allege Calk used his position at the