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When another long-time accomplice of Donald Trump arrived in the New York court to accept the charges, a familiar face was waiting.
A familiar face was waiting outside the courtroom in New York City today. One of Donald Trump’s long-time associates, businessman Tom Barrack, arrived to face the charges against him.
Mr. Barack, a wealthy investor, has known the former US president since the 1980s. At the Republican National Convention during the 2016 election campaign, he described Trump as “one of my closest friends in 40 years.”
He is the chairman of Mr. Trump’s inaugural committee.
He was arrested last week He was accused of failing to register as a foreign agent, conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and lying to the FBI.
related: Prosecutors accuse the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer
Mr. Barak and three other defendants are accused of conspiring to act as agents for the United Arab Emirates and then attempting to influence the 2016 Trump campaign and the foreign policy of the Trump administration.
The businessman was released on bail of 250 million U.S. dollars (339 million U.S. dollars) on Friday.
Today, he was summoned in a federal court in Brooklyn, where he pleaded not guilty. His next court appearance is scheduled for September 2.
Mr. Barak was questioned on his way into the court.
“This is our democracy, not yours,” a man shouted at him.
“This is our democracy, a hole.”
And the familiar face mentioned earlier lurks in the background: an old man wearing sunglasses, holding a sign with the word “Traitor” in his hand.
We have seen this man several times before. He also appeared before Mr. Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort and political adviser Roger Stone to take photos of them when they appeared in court in New York.
After the 2020 election, but before he resigned on January 20, both men were pardoned by Trump.
As a result, Manafort was spared seven and a half years in prison for financial crimes (including fraud and obstruction of justice).
Mr. Trump had previously commuted Mr. Stone’s sentence, and Mr. Stone was convicted of lying to Congress, tampering with witnesses, and obstruction.
As part of an investigation into Russian election interference, both men were trapped.
The prosecutor said that Mr. Barak used his influence to insert pro-Emirati language in a Trump campaign speech in 2016 and provided the UAE with “non-public” information about the Trump administration.
“The defendants repeatedly capitalised on Barrack’s friendships and access to a candidate who was eventually elected president, high-ranking campaign and government officials, and the US media to advance the policy goals of a foreign government, without disclosing their true allegiances,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Marklesco said when he was accused.
“The actions charged in the indictment are tantamount to those officials who betrayed the United States, including the former president.
“The defendants used their power and influence in the presidential election year to conspire to illegally advance and promote the interests of the United Arab Emirates, blatantly violating their obligation to inform the Minister of Justice of their activities, and when foreign governments try to influence our government’s policies At that time, the American people’s right to know was derogated.”
The Assistant Director of the FBI, William Sweeney, also issued a statement.
“This case is about a secret attempt to influence our top officials. When this corruption was discovered, we accused Mr. Barack of going further, obstructing and lying to FBI agents.
Each of these wrong choices is a federal felony, and each one now has major consequences. “
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