Tom Barrack, an ally of former President Donald Trump, traded access to Trump for money from the United Arab Emirates, a federal prosecutor claimed during closing arguments of Barrack’s trial on Tuesday.
Ryan Harris, an assistant United States attorney, claimed that Barrack used his influence as a former fundraiser for Trump and the former chairman of Trump’s inaugural committee to promote matters important to the UAE in exchange for monetary investments from the Emirati government. The UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi invested $374 million in Barrack, according to Harris.
WAUKESHA PARADE KILLER PLANS FOR ’20 OR MORE’ TO SPEAK ON HIS BEHALF AT SENTENCING
“Mr. Barrack traded his political access for a long-term relationship with top UAE officials … who controlled vast oil wealth,” Harris told New York jurors. “In return, the UAE unlocked its purse strings.”
Barrack, 75, has been accused of failing to register with the U.S. government working as an agent for the UAE as required by law. Barrack has pleaded not guilty and claims his actions were related to his work as the CEO of the private equity firm Colony Capital, now known as DigitalBridge Group.
Jurors have been shown hundreds of text messages and emails between Barrack, his former assistant and co-defendant Matthew Grimes, and Emirati businessman Rashid Al Malik over the past six weeks. Prosecutors claim that Barrack exchanged “insider information” about U.S. foreign policy to UAE officials in exchange for Emirati input about what Trump should say about the Middle East in television interviews and articles.
Barrack testified last week that he had not agreed to operate under Abu Dhabi’s direction and claimed that he had acted in favor of the UAE’s rival Qatar in 2017. Barrack’s defense attorney Randall Jackson said that Qatar had invested even more funds into Barrack’s company than the UAE.
“Does it make any sense that if Tom is agreeing to be an agent of the UAE that he would have more investment from Qatar?” Jackson said last week.
During his closing statements Tuesday, Jackson added that nothing illegal occurred between Barrack and the Emirati government and that it was normal for a company to “try to cater to your business interests as well as your political interests,” according to Reuters.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Federal law states that U.S. citizens must notify the attorney general if they “agree to operate within the United States subject to the direction or control of a foreign government,” according to Section 951 of the 1917 Espionage Act. Although the law was initially used for traditional espionage, courts have expanded it to cover influence or lobbying endeavors.
If convicted, Barrack could be sentenced to up to 10 years for the foreign agent crime, and he faces another five-year sentence due to a conspiracy charge. Grimes, who has also pleaded not guilty, faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. Malik is still at large.
