Jury Friday in New York found Trump confidant and billionaire Thomas Barrack is not guilty of all charges in his test on federal charges of foreign lobbying.
Barrack, 75-year-old investor who was an adviser former President Donald Trump and Chairman of its founding committee, was accused of using his ties to the Trump administration to try to influence foreign policy for client, United Arab Emirates.
Outside the Brooklyn federal courthouse, Barrack praised the jury and called for a “lady judge.”
” system marvelous. The people are amazing. I have no animosity, I just proud to be an American,” Barack said, adding later that he “made with politics.”
“Let’s stop fighting with each other. Let all politicization stop of everyone, whoever the president is,” Barak told reporters in front of the teenagers playing music on Portable speakers passed by. Barak was silent for a while, folded his hands in in the air and danced.
The prosecutor’s office presented Barak as a “campaigning” businessman. for cash” out to use his connections in the White House with add profitable client to your investment portfolio. barrack defense said he using his ties to the Middle East and the presidential administration to try to settle disputes in changeable but decisive region try to gag off legendary international investment career.
The jury, convened on September 19, discussed for two days before sentencing.
barrack pleaded not guilty blame of acting as an unregistered foreign agent for UAE, obstruction of justice and doing false statements to the FBI.
Prosecutors showed jurors text messages and emails sent during in 2016 and 2017, during the presidential campaign and early days of trump administration, in which Barack and employee of his firm Colony Capital apparently broadcast the conversations points Related to “wish list” of UAE priorities. Barack and employeeMichael Grimes, communication through an intermediary with Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh who UAE national security advisor, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors said Barack and Grimes’ efforts generated $374 million. in new investments from the UAE sovereign fund for their firm. Them defense stated that in their efforts to attract new investment, and noted that this figure represented just one% of investment portfolio managed by Barrack’s former the company now known as DigitalBridge.
Grimes, 29, was also charged in a business. Jury found It’s not his fault of the charge that he was acting as an unregistered foreign agent.
Alleged mediator, Emirati national who lived in California, Rashid al Malik, was also charged with acts as an unregistered foreign agent. Al Malik was not located by the authorities.
After the verdict, Grimes said he felt “grateful” to the jury and his parents, who daily attended the court and “who stood by my side every single day.”
“I’m glad live in United States, to be able to appear before a judge who is honest and impartial, and a jury of my peers, who has concluded of what is this should to be. And this truth”Grimes said.
Asked what next, he said, “resentment”, without going into details.
Outside the courtroom prosecutors passed by without comment.
barrack spent final six days of trial on rack, testifying in his own defense. He described his messages with UAE officials have called the Trump administration “fiery” and attempts to settle disputes.
Jury also heard testimony from two Trump administration officials, former Minister of Finance Stephen Mnuchincaused by Barak defense and also former Secretary of State Rex Tillersoncaused government.
