Former Colony Capital CEO Tom Barrack was arrested in California today on federal charges, according to the U.S. Justice Department.
Per a report in the Real Deal, a seven-count indictment was unsealed charging Barrack, Matthew Grimes and Rashid Sultan Rashid Al Malik Alshahhi, also known as “Rashid Al Malik,” a citizen of the United Arab Emirates, with acting and conspiring to act as agents of that nation between April 2016 and April 2018.
The three are accused of trying to advance the interests of the United Arab Emirates, at the direction of senior UAE officials, by influencing the foreign policy positions of the then-candidate and eventual President Donald Trump.
Barrack is known to have a longstanding friendship with Trump, which federal prosecutors argue was used to manipulate U.S. positions with the UAE. Barrack was additionally charged with obstruction of justice and making false statements during a June 20, 2019 interview with federal law enforcement agents.
According to the Real Deal, Barrack was an informal adviser to Trump’s campaign and chaired his presidential inaugural committee from April 2016-November 2016. He was an informal adviser to senior U.S. officials on foreign policy issues for the Middle East. He also sought appointment to a senior role in the U.S. government.
For more on this developing story, head over to the Real Deal by clicking here.