An ally of Donald Trump has used the former president’s influence to help the United Arab Emirates (UAE) try to gain ground in US foreign policy in a “power and money” scheme, a prosecutor said on Wednesday.
A magistrate told a New York City jury that, at the direction of United Arab Emirates leaders, Tom Barrack provided sensitive information about the Trump campaign and administration.
At the same time, the UAE has invested millions of dollars in business ventures operated by Barrack and his co-defendants, federal prosecutor Hiral Mehta said.
“When Donald Trump ran for president, the defendants saw an opportunity, an opportunity to use Barrack’s exclusive access to gain power and money,” Mehta said.
Barrack, he added, considered himself the “eyes, ears and voice” of the United Arab Emirates, which went so far as to ask him to find out about Trump’s picks for secretary of state and other top jobs.
The first US government witness was an expert on Middle East affairs who is expected to continue testifying today.
Barrack, 75, was arrested in 2021 and released on $250 million bail.
An attorney for the millionaire had said his client has an exemplary record of pursuing only legitimate business and public interests.
The Trump friend has pleaded not guilty to charges of acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government, obstructing and making false statements.
Source: TSF
