George Aref Nader, who informally informed the White House and was a key witness in the investigation of Russia, will return to court Friday. Nader's lawyers want a judge to release him from prison, citing a health problem, although prosecutors have expressed their opposition.
Nader appeared in a khaki prison uniform and appeared to have a medical wrist on his left wrist. His lawyers had previously stated that he was suffering from complications related to a recent cardiac operation. He answered a few procedural questions in court, speaking softly and whispering his words.
The hearing was the last development of a weeklong flash for Nader. He arrived in the United States on Monday to receive specialized medical treatment in New York in order to cope with the complications of cardiac surgery. Instead, he was incarcerated in a federal institution on a charge of child pornography. He was then driven by FBI agents from New York to Virginia to attend Thursday's hearing.
The case may be related to the investigation of the special advocate Robert Mueller.
Nader was arrested by FBI agents last year after arriving at a New York airport. During his interrogation as part of the investigation into Russia, FBI agents uncovered a dozen sexually explicit videos of underage boys, according to court reports. He was not charged in the Mueller investigation, but federal prosecutors in Virginia have secretly accused him of staging child pornography.
When he returned to the United States this week for medical treatment, he was promptly arrested.
The Mueller report mentions Nader in almost four dozen footnotes, including references to his interviews with specialized investigators, as well as other documents, such as his e-mails and SMS. He helped Mueller understand the elements of the infamous Seychelles meeting, which brought together Trump's defender, Erik Prince, and an influential banker from the Russian government.
The meeting in Seychelles also included meetings with senior officials from the United Arab Emirates. Nader has long been an advisor to UAE officials and has served as a diplomatic intermediary for years, organizing meetings with powerful leaders around the world.
Nader pleaded guilty in the 1990s to carrying child pornography. He has also faced similar allegations in the Czech Republic. He has not yet had a change to plead in Virginia.
