- Title: Trump ally Barrack pleads not guilty in UAE lobbying case
- Date: 26th July 2021
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (JULY 26, 2021) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF THOMAS BARRACK, SURROUNDED BY SECURITY, LAWYERS AND MEDIA, LEAVING BROOKLYN FEDERAL COURT AFTER HIS ARRAIGNMENT IN LOBBYING CASE AND GETTING INTO LIMO (SOUNDBITE) (English) MATT HERRINGTON, ATTORNEY FOR THOMAS BARRACK, SAYING: "Tom Barrack pled not guilty today. He did that because he's innocent. The charges that were presented to him today were based on information that were presented and discussed at my conference room two years ago. And he is innocent. We look forward to proving it in court. And we'll be releasing a separate statement from Mr. Barrack and you can contact me, I've got cards and we'll be sure to distribute that to all news sources. Thank you very much." HERRINGTON WALKS AWAY FROM MICROPHONE VARIOUS OF BROOKLYN FEDERAL COURTHOUSE AND SECURITY
- Embargoed: 9th August 2021 19:24
- Keywords: Barrack Trump United Arab Emirates lobbying Trial
- Location: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- City: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Crime/Law/Justice,Judicial Process/Court Cases/Court Decisions,United States
- Reuters ID: LVA001ENHA9MV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Former U.S. President Donald Trump's billionaire ally Thomas Barrack pleaded not guilty on Monday (July 26) to charges of illegal lobbying for the United Arab Emirates, putting the case on course for a possible trial.
Barrack entered his plea to seven criminal counts before U.S. Magistrate Judge Sanket Bulsara in Brooklyn.
The charges against Barrack, 74, included secretly lobbying the Trump administration for the UAE between 2016 and 2018, and lying to investigators about dealings with the Middle Eastern country.
"Tom Barrack pled not guilty today. He did that because he's innocent," said Barrack's attorney Matt Herrington outside the courthouse, adding "We look forward to proving it in court."
Barrack was released last week on $250 million bond, secured by $5 million in cash as well as several properties and stock valued at $150 million.
Bulsara said Barrack may live at his home in Aspen, Colorado while awaiting trial. The next hearing is scheduled for September 2 before U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan.
Barrack chaired Trump's 2017 inaugural fund and was a frequent guest at the White House.
In an indictment unsealed last week, federal prosecutors accused three people - Barrack, his former employee Matthew Grimes, and an Emirati businessman - of failing to register as lobbyists, and using their influence to advance the UAE's foreign policy in the United States.
Grimes pleaded not guilty on Monday to conspiracy and illegal lobbying charges, and was released on $5 million bond.
The third defendant is at large.
Barrack founded the digital infrastructure-focused private equity firm DigitalBridge Group Inc, known as Colony Capital Inc before a rebranding announced in June.
His blank-check acquisition firm Falcon Peak Acquisition Corp withdrew an initial public offering registration on Friday after the charges were unsealed.
(Production: Roselle Chen, Andrew Hofstetter, Soren Larson) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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