[ad_1]
Tom Barrack, who chaired former President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee in 2017, was arrested on Tuesday for illegally influencing the campaign’s and administration’s foreign policy positions to advance UAE interests, said the Department of Justice.
In a seven-count indictment unsealed in New York federal court, Barrack, 74, and two others are charged with “acting and conspiring to act as agents” of the Emirates Arab Emirates between April 2016 and April 2018. Barrack was also charged with obstructing justice and making multiple false statements to federal law enforcement officials.
The trio acted “to advance the interests of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the United States under the leadership of senior United Arab Emirates officials by influencing a presidential candidate’s campaign foreign policy positions. of 2016 and, subsequently, the foreign policy positions of the US government in the new administration, as well as seeking to influence public opinion in favor of the interests of the United Arab Emirates, ”the Justice Department said.
Barrack, a longtime friend of Trump, used the friendship to put language into the then-candidate’s energy discourse in 2016 about the importance of working with “our Gulf allies” at the behest of Emirati officials , according to the indictment. After the election, and while chairman of Trump’s inaugural committee, Barrack was asked by officials to provide information on Trump’s choices to lead the State Department, CIA, and Defense Department, according to the file.
“We work through them in real time and I have our high profile regional interest. When you get the chance, let’s talk by phone,” Barrack replied.
Barrack also worked with officials during the transition on a plan to influence Trump’s foreign policy for the entirety of his first term, according to the indictment, and arranged a phone call between Trump and a senior official. of the United Arab Emirates in 2017.
Barrack was arrested in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday morning, according to law enforcement officials familiar with the matter, and was scheduled to appear in federal court later today.
A spokesperson for Barrack said he “made himself available to investigators on a voluntary basis from the start. He is not guilty and will plead not guilty.
Prosecutors plan to request that he remain in custody pending a bail hearing in New York, citing his wealth, access to a private jet and “the accused’s deep and long-standing ties to countries that do not have extradition treaties with the United States ”, namely Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
Prosecutors said in court records that Barrack provided UAE government officials with “sensitive non-public information about developments in the administration, including information on the positions of several senior government officials. United States regarding the Qatari blockade carried out by the United Arab Emirates and other countries in the Middle East. Eastern countries. “
They also claim that not only did Barrack work to lead the leadership of the UAE, but he also “met and assisted the top leaders of Saudi Arabia. [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia], a close ally of the United Arab Emirates. “
Prosecutors said their case was strong and Barrack’s activities “during the relevant period are heavily documented and corroborated in thousands of emails, text messages, iCloud records, theft records , social media recordings, photographs, video recordings and other types of evidence, all of this reflects its willingness to follow the instructions of UAE government officials, its activities on their behalf and its communications with these representatives of the government of the United Arab Emirates and its co-conspirators. “
The indictment says Barrack was questioned about requests from UAE officials by the FBI in 2019, and told agents the UAE never asked him anything about the administration. of Trump.
Anna schecter contributed.
[ad_2]
Source link