Skip to main content

Thomas Barrack: Top Trump aide accused of working as foreign agent


 Billionaire and long-time Donald Trump ally Thomas J Barrack have been arrested in Los Angeles for allegedly acting as an agent of a foreign government.

The 74-year-old investment firm founder served as a key adviser to the former US president's 2016 campaign and was considered a top fundraiser.

Mr. Barrack is accused of illegally lobbying on behalf of the United Arab Emirates during and after the campaign.

A spokesman for Mr. Barrack said he planned to plead not guilty.

He is the latest ex-Trump official to face federal charges.

Mr. Barrack is charged with conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and making multiple false statements to the FBI during a 2019 interview.

Also charged are Matthew Grimes, 27 - who works for Mr. Barrack - and UAE citizen Rashid Sultan Rashid Al Malik Alshahhi, 43, according to the seven-page indictment.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Mark Lesko said the conduct alleged in the indictment was "nothing short of a betrayal" of US officials including Mr. Trump himself.

The three men are accused of seeking to advance the interests of the UAE government both by influencing Trump officials and through media appearances.

In May 2016 Mr. Barrack is alleged to have inserted language praising the UAE into a Trump campaign speech. An advanced draft of the speech was allegedly sent to Mr. Alshahhi to pass on to UAE officials.

The defendants are also alleged to have received "talking points" from senior UAE officials for use in media appearances.

"After one appearance in which Barrack repeatedly praised the UAE, Barrack emailed Alshahhi, 'I nailed it... for the home team,' referring to the UAE," the charging document states.

The men also allegedly agreed to promote the candidacy of a UAE-favoured individual to serve as US ambassador to Abu Dhabi.

In December 2016 - following the election - Mr. Barrack is also alleged to have advised Mr. Grimes and Mr. Alshahhi to create a "wish list" of US foreign policy items that the UAE wanted to see accomplished during the Trump administration.

While Mr. Barrack and Mr. Grimes were both arrested in California on Tuesday morning, Mr. Alshahhi remains at large.

With the announcement, Mr. Barrack becomes the latest Trump aide to face criminal charges, including former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former Trump Organization lawyer Michael Cohen.

Donald Trump may be out of office, but members of his inner circle are still in the prosecutorial cross-hairs. Tom Barrack is just the latest target.

It's difficult to overstate Barrack's ties to Trump over the course of their four-decade friendship. He was instrumental, for instance, in convincing then-candidate Trump to hire Paul Manafort as his campaign manager and helped fill out senior staff positions.

Now, like Manafort and other Trump associates, Barrack faces accusations of using his ties to Trump to advance the interests of a foreign government.

It's yet another indication that during Trump's campaign and the early days of his presidency, nations sought to take advantage of the novice nature of Trump's political team to gain influence over US foreign policy - both above the table and under it.

Barrack and Trump reportedly have had a falling out, but their ties run deep. If he wants to talk about Trump's past activities, prosecutors may be inclined to listen


Source:bbc.com

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Killers of Ahmed Suale arrested - Abronye alleges

Ahmed Hussein-Suale was shot thrice on January 16 Two persons have been arrested in connection with the murder of undercover journalist with Tiger Eye PI, Ahmed Hussein-Suale. The two were arrested in separate swoops. While one is still being held and interrogated by BNI officials, Kotobabi police are believed to have granted the other bail. This was revealed by the Brong Ahafo Regional First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe alias Abronye DC. He disclosed on NET 2 Television on Wednesday followed by MyNewsGh.com that one of the suspects is currently in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigations BNI while the other was released by the Kotobabi police after he managed to use money to influence his way. “Are you aware that the police patrol team arrested one of the suspects in connection with the death of Ahmed Suale? When they took him to the Kotobabi police station he was released within 30 minutes in collusion with some officers. The one who pu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dogboe takes time off boxing

Isaac Dogboe Isaac Dogboe's journey in the pugilistic sport is far from over, even though he is to take a lengthy break. The 24-year-old will remain in the sport but will take time off and resume his university education, he has exclusively confirmed to Joy Sports. The former world champion gained admission to the Penster University last year but had deferred studies due to the demands of his boxing career. This decision to return to school comes after a one-on-one meeting with his father, Paul, who led his corner on the night of his humiliating loss to WBO super bantamweight champion, Emmanuel Navarette. "I am good and glad I was not injured. It's rather unfortunate I couldn't win the bout and I guess sometimes these things happen. I am grateful to all for the massive support for this bout,” he told Joy Sports in Arizona. He mentions that he will take time off to get himself back into school, and re-strategize to make a return to the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ghana added to South Africa’s list of visa-free countries

File Photo Ghanaians no longer need a visa to travel to South Africa. This is because the South African Government has added Ghana to the list of its visa-free countries. This was captured in a post on South Africa’s Home Affairs Twitter handle. Other countries that were added to the list of visa-free countries include Qatar, United Arab Emirates, New Zealand, Saudi Arabia, Cuba and Sao Tome and Principe. A separate statement from the Home Affairs Minister, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi said: “Out of the 193 countries who are member states of the United Nations, the Department has granted visa-free status to 75 countries.” He said, out of the number “16 are in our [African] continent and are SADC members and 59 are from all over the world.” He went on further to announce seven countries that have been added to the visa-free list which included Ghana. Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi said they “will immediately enter into discussions with them about how a visa-free regime will work. We still have some ...
Post a Comment
Read more