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Tom Barrack, a former adviser to President Trump, is accused of attempting to influence foreign policy while Trump was running for office in 2016 and after being elected president.
Barrack, who chaired Trump’s inaugural committee in 2017, was arrested and charged Tuesday with being an agent of the United Arab Emirates between April 2016 and April 2018.
Two other defendants were also indicted in the indictment on seven counts: Matthew Grimes and UAE citizen Rashid Al Malik, who is still at large. Barrack is also charged with obstructing justice and making multiple false statements during a June 2019 interview with federal law enforcement officials.
This Tuesday, January 10, 2017 photo shows Tom Barrack speaking with reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City before meeting with President-elect Donald Trump.
(AP Photo / Evan Vucci, file)
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“As alleged, the defendants, using their positions of power and influence during a presidential election year, have engaged in a conspiracy to illegally advance and promote UAE interests in that country, by flagrant violation of their obligation to inform the Attorney General of their activities and in violation of the right of the American people to know when a foreign government seeks to influence the policies of our government and our public opinion, “said Acting Prosecutor Jacquelyn Kasulis in a press release.
Barrack, the founder of Colony Capital and Trump’s longtime friend will fight the charges, his attorney, Matt Herrington, told Fox News.
“Tom Barrack made himself readily available to investigators from the start. He is not guilty and will plead not guilty today,” Herrington said.
Barrack appeared Tuesday afternoon in federal court in Los Angeles, where he was arrested, and ordered his detention pending a detention hearing on July 26. The government then seeks to bring him to the east coast as the case is pursued outside the Eastern District. from New York.
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“The behavior alleged in the indictment is nothing less than a betrayal of those officials in the United States, including the former president,” said Acting Deputy Attorney General Mark Lesko.
According to prosecutors, Barrack went so far as to provide UAE government officials with sensitive information about the views and reactions of senior U.S. government officials following a White House meeting between officials. from both countries.
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