Tom Barrack, a close friend of Donald Trump who led the Trump inaugural celebration committee that’s also under investigation, has been indicted for illegally lobbying for a foreign government, the Washington Post reports.
The indictment by the Eastern District of New York charges Barrack with illegally representing the government of United Arab Emirates. Barrack was arrested at his residence in California.
Barrack and two associates are charged with acting as agents of the UAE from April 2016 and April 2018, working to promote Emirati interests with government organizations and lobbying groups. It is not specified what government officials Barrack approached.
Barrack chaired the Trump inaugural committee and lobbied unsuccessfully for the position of ambassador to Mexico. He is a long-term business partner of the Trump Organization due to his work in buying or refinancing properties in financial trouble.