A former Obama administration official took $50,000 from an associate of a Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire, who the Justice Department had been investigating as part of an illegal campaign cash scheme, according to federal prosecutors.
Ray LaHood, 75, who served as the transportation secretary from 2009 to 2013, took a check for $50,000 in 2012 with the word “Loan” written on it while he was “suffering financial difficulties,” the DOJ announced Wednesday. The check came from Toufic Joseph Baaklini, 58, an associate of Lebanese-Nigerian billionaire Gilbert Chagoury, 75, who, despite being “prohibited by federal law from contributing to any U.S. elections,” made payments to government officials through those in his orbit.
LaHood “understood” the check came from Chagoury, and he failed to disclose the money on two separate government ethics forms, the DOJ wrote. Investigators added that the Obama administration official “made misleading statements to FBI agents.”
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The former transportation secretary repaid the $50,000 to Baaklini and paid $40,000 authorities to “resolve” the criminal investigation against him, the Justice Department said.
Chagoury admitted to paying a total of $180,000 to four different political candidates within the U.S. government, and he dished out $1.8 million to resolve his inquiry with the DOJ. Chagoury’s assistant, Joseph Arsan, 68, helped “reimburse others for contributions to political candidates,” and in one instance was caught wiring $30,000 to an undisclosed lawmaker for a “wedding gift,” according to the Justice Department.
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Arsan was fined $1.7 million, while Baaklini paid $90,000. The DOJ entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with Chagoury due to his willingness to cooperate and his foreign status. The other defendants were put through the same process.
