Thomas Barrack 'arrested': Ex-chairman of Trump inaugural fund accused of illegally lobbying then-president for UAE

THE EX-chairman of Donald Trump's inaugural fund has been accused of illegally lobbying the then-president for the United Arab Emirates.

Thomas Barrack, 74, was arrested in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday morning on federal charges related to illegally lobbying Trump for the United Arab Emirates.

Barrack was booked with acting as an agent of the UAE at the direction of UAE officials by influencing the foreign policy positions fo the Trump campaign in 2016 and lying to the FBI, CNBC reported.

He was charged in a seven-count indictment in New York federal court, according to the outlet.

Alongside Barrack in the acting and conspiring to act as agents charges were Matthew Grimes, Rashid Sultan Rashid Al Malik Alshahhi and Rashid Al-Malik.

Assistant Attorney General Mark Lesko of the Justice Department’s National Security Division told the outlet: "The defendants repeatedly capitalized on Barrack’s friendships and access to a candidate who was eventually elected President, high-ranking campaign and government officials, and the American media to advance the policy goals of a foreign government without disclosing their true allegiances.

"The conduct alleged in the indictment is nothing short of a betrayal of those officials in the United States, including the former President."

Barrack was the founder of equity firm Colony Capital, but stepped down as CEO in 2020.

Alongside working for the former president back when he was in office in 2017, Barrack is a longtime friend of Trump.

INTERVIEWED BACK IN 2018

Back in 2018, Barrack was interviewed as part of the federal investigation of possible coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia in the 2016 election, according to the AP.

The specific topics covered in questions from Mueller’s team were not immediately clear.

One of the people who spoke to AP said the questioning focused entirely on two officials from Trump’s campaign who have been indicted by Mueller: Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and Manafort’s longtime deputy, Rick Gates.

Gates agreed to plead guilty to federal conspiracy and false statement charges in February and began cooperating with investigators.

This person said Barrack was interviewed "months ago" and was asked a few questions about Gates’ work on Trump’s inaugural committee, which Barrack chaired, and but there were no questions about the money raised by that committee.

A second person with knowledge of the Barrack interview said the questioning was broader and did include financial matters about the campaign, the transition and Trump’s inauguration in January 2017.

Barrack had rare access and insight into Trump going back decades, since their days developing real estate.

TOP FUNDRAISER IN TRUMP CAMPAIGN

He played an integral role in the 2016 campaign as a top fundraiser at a time when many other Republicans were shunning the upstart candidate. Barrack later directed Trump’s inauguration.

Barrack, a wealthy real estate investor with close ties to several Mideast leaders, met Trump in 1988 when he negotiated the sale of The Plaza Hotel in New York to Trump.

Barrack's publicist in 2016 described the men as having since "solidified a lifelong friendship between themselves and their families."

Barrack employed Gates last year, wrapping up operations on the Presidential Inaugural Committee, before Gates was charged by Mueller.

Barrack spoke glowingly of Trump in a CNBC interview in early 2016.

“He's one of the kindest, and actually most humble, friends that I've had," Barrack said.

"I have so much respect for him because at this point in his career, wandering into the milieu was not easy, and he’s changed the dialogue of the debate."

Barrack also was among the featured speakers at the Republican convention where Trump formally received the nomination.

Days after Trump’s victory in November 2016, Barrack told CBS' This Morning that Trump was like an ultimate fighter during the campaign who used "whatever tools necessary to convey a really disruptive message."

Barrack said America would see "a softer, kinder" Trump when he won the presidency.

Source: Read Full Article