Tom Barrack, a billionaire and longtime ally of former US President Donald Trump, was acquitted on all counts on Friday in a federal trial where he was accused of acting as an unregistered foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates. The jury deliberated for three days before clearing Barrack of charges including illegal lobbying, obstruction of justice, and making false statements.
Prosecutors alleged that Barrack used his personal access to Trump to secretly advance UAE interests, including influencing foreign policy and securing investments. Assistant US Attorney Ryan Harris argued that Barrack schemed to become the “eyes, ears and the voice” for the Emirates, leveraging back-channel connections to funnel tens of millions of dollars into his business ventures.
However, defence attorney Randall Jackson countered that Barrack made no attempt to conceal his relationships with UAE businessperson Rashid al Malik, and that it would have been illogical for him to infiltrate the Trump campaign on behalf of the UAE when Trump’s electoral chances were slim. Barrack testified that he never sought a pardon, even after learning he was under investigation.
Barrack, who chaired Trump’s 2017 inaugural committee and raised $107 million for the event, had also described efforts to arrange meetings between Trump and UAE officials to moderate Trump’s anti-Muslim rhetoric. The acquittal marks the end of a high-profile case involving one of several Trump associates to face criminal charges.
