Trump ally Thomas Barrack pleads not guilty in UAE lobbying case

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Federal authorities say Barrack, a longtime good friend of Donald Trump, secretly lobbied within the US on behalf of the UAE.

The chairman of former President Donald Trump’s 2017 inaugural committee pleaded not responsible Monday and mentioned he was “one hundred pc harmless” of expenses that he secretly lobbied the US on behalf of the United Arab Emirates.

Thomas Barrack, 74, sporting a black masks to guard in opposition to the coronavirus, appeared in Brooklyn federal courtroom for the primary time, days after he was freed on $250m bail following his arrest in California. His lawyer entered his plea for him.

“As you’d anticipate, the system is working. I believe what you’ll discover is that … over time, you’ll all see that I’m one hundred pc harmless,” Barrack mentioned as he left the courtroom.

Prosecutors mentioned Barrack used his multi-decade friendship with Trump to affect the Republican’s coverage, beginning when Trump was a candidate in 2016 and persevering with after he was sworn in as president.

On the time, the UAE was in a tense diplomatic battle with Qatar. Prosecutors mentioned that, amongst different issues, Barrack supplied Emirati authorities officers with details about how senior US officers considered the dispute. A bunch of nations, together with Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE and Bahrain, launched a blockade in opposition to Qatar in mid-2017.

Prosecutors mentioned Barrack boasted to contacts within the Emirates that he may assist them achieve affect with the then-new administration, at the same time as he was in search of a submit as ambassador to the UAE or as particular envoy to the Center East.

Federal authorities mentioned Barrack broke the legislation by failing to reveal his UAE ties to the US authorities.

On Friday, a Los Angeles Justice of the Peace decide permitted a $250m bail deal negotiated between Barrack’s attorneys and federal prosecutors. The association required Barrack to surrender passports and undergo digital monitoring. It additionally imposed a curfew.

Barrack is charged with conspiracy, obstruction of justice and making false statements throughout a June 2019 interview with federal brokers.

Barrack, who has an digital ankle bracelet to adjust to monitoring necessities, plans to stay in Aspen, Colorado, whereas he awaits trial, his attorneys mentioned. He additionally pledged to solely fly on industrial flights. He’s topic to a curfew and numerous different restrictions, together with limits on monetary transactions and bans on communications with officers from the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

In an indictment unsealed final week, federal prosecutors accused three folks – Barrack, his former worker Matthew Grimes, and Emirati businessman Rashid al-Malik of failing to register as lobbyists, and utilizing their affect to advance the UAE’s overseas coverage in the US.

Prosecutors mentioned Grimes, 27, and al-Malik, 43, acted as a conduit to the UAE’s leaders, and have been additionally charged within the seven-count indictment.

Grimes additionally appeared Monday in Brooklyn federal courtroom, the place his lawyer entered a not responsible plea for him.

However al-Malik is at giant. He fled the US three days after an April 2018 interview by legislation enforcement, authorities mentioned. He’s believed to be dwelling someplace within the Center East.

Barrack was an off-the-cuff adviser to Trump’s 2016 marketing campaign earlier than turning into the inaugural committee chair.

The indictment in opposition to Barrack made no allegations of wrongdoing by the inaugural committee or by Trump.

A pretrial listening to for Barrack and Grimes was scheduled for September 2, when a trial decide moderately than a Justice of the Peace decide will preside over what was described as a telephonic convention.

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