Donald Trump's campaign manager helped a Ukrainian political group loyal to Russia quietly send $2.2 million to Washington lobbying firms, according to the Associated Press.

The AP said Paul Manafort never registered as a representative of this foreign entity, which may have violated U.S. law.

According to the AP, Manafort and another Trump strategist, Rick Gates, were consultants to then-Ukranian President Viktor Yanukovych. They helped Yanukovych hire two Washington lobbying firms.

Gates told the AP that these actions were lawful, and that there was "no attempt to circumvent the reporting requirements of the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act."

But the report could lead to further scrutiny of Manafort, even if no laws were broken. Trump has criticized Hillary Clinton for being soft on foreign affairs, and Manafort's effort on behalf of a pro-Russia group could muddy that message.

Manafort is already facing a diminished role after an early Wednesday morning campaign shakeup that comes after Trump's campaign has struggled over the last several weeks.