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[1/3] Tom Barrack, CEO of Colony Capital, speaks at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. July 21, 2016. Here are five criminal cases where the defendant testified:Theranos founder Elizabeth HolmesThe Theranos founder took the stand at her criminal trial in 2021, testifying over several days that she did not intend to defraud investors in the now defunct blood-testing startup. Middendorf, who was head of a department at KPMG, testified at the trial in Manhattan that when he learned another employee had obtained the information, he reported it to his boss. Ex-HSBC executive Mark JohnsonThe former HSBC executive was convicted in 2017 of defrauding a bank client in a $3.5 billion currency trade. Reporting by Jody Godoy in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Daniel WallisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Tom Barrack, Jim Young, Sam Bankman, Fried, Elizabeth Holmes, Holmes, Donald Trump, David Middendorf, Middendorf, Mark Johnson, Johnson, Jean Boustani, Boustani, Jody Godoy, Noeleen Walder, Daniel Wallis Organizations: Colony Capital, Republican National Convention, REUTERS, United, United Arab Emirates, U.S, KPMG, Supreme, HSBC, Prosecutors, Credit Suisse, Thomson Locations: Cleveland , Ohio, U.S, San Jose , California, Brooklyn, United Arab, UAE, Manhattan, British, Lebanese, Mozambican, Mozambique, New York

Indicted FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried leaves the United States Courthouse in New York City, U.S., July 26, 2023. Elizabeth Holmes took the stand at her criminal trial, testifying over several days that she did not intend to defraud investors in her blood-testing startup, Theranos. For Bankman-Fried to be convicted of fraud, prosecutors must show beyond a reasonable doubt that he intended to defraud FTX customers or investors. Taking the stand carries the risk that he will be confronted with those media appearances as well as his use of social media. But Bankman-Fried has a lower-than-average fear of risk, according to trial testimony.

Persons: Sam Bankman, Fried, Amr Alfiky, Willkie Farr, Gallagher, Ilene Jaroslaw, Elizabeth Holmes, Holmes, Caroline Ellison, Ellison, Mike Schachter, Schachter, Tom Barrack, Donald Trump, Jean Boustani, District Judge Lewis Kaplan, Bankman, Jody Godoy, Tom Hals, Noeleen Walder, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: United, REUTERS, Prosecutors, Alameda Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Detention, U.S, District, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Alameda, Lebanese, Brooklyn's, New York

☆ New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez hires Hunter Biden lawyer for bribery case
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-24 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) walks to the Senate floor for a procedural vote at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S. September 20, 2023. New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez has tapped Abbe Lowell, the same attorney defending Hunter Biden against his tax and firearm charges, to represent him in his federal bribery case, a spokesperson for the prosecutors said. The Democratic senator also hired Lowell when he was charged in 2015 for allegedly accepting illegal gifts from a Florida ophthalmologist. Grimes, Barrack and others had been charged with secretly acting as foreign agents for the United Arab Emirates. Lowell has also represented Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and former advisor.

Persons: Robert Menendez, New Jersey Sen, Bob Menendez, Abbe Lowell, Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's, Lowell, Matthew Grimes, Donald Trump's, Tom Barrack, Grimes, Barrack, Jared Kushner, Trump's, Kushner, Menendez, Law360 Organizations: U.S, Capitol, Democratic, United, United Arab Emirates, White Locations: Washington , U.S, New Jersey, Florida, United Arab

☆ China 'police station' case shows U.S. ramping up use of foreign agent laws
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The Justice Department last year charged at least 25 people with violating or conspiring to violate the law. That was the highest number since at least 2003, according to a Reuters review of Justice Department statements and court records. He added that his office uses the foreign agent statute and other tools to combat the trend. A RARELY TESTED STATUTEWhile once mainly used against traditional espionage, Section 951 cases brought in recent years have targeted "influence operations" and harassment of U.S.-based dissidents. After the acquittal, Justice Department official Jay Bratt told a conference the department would "continue to bring hard cases."

☆ Jim Cramer's top 10 things to watch in the stock market Tuesday: Alibaba split, Disney, Microsoft
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Jim Cramer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Club holding Meta Platforms (META), which itself has de-emphasized the metaverse, is not done laying off people this time because of performance reviews. Where is Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg going? As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade.

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried's bail was set at a whopping $250 million — but that's still much less than some monster bonds. Here are some of the biggest.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-23 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Sam Bankman-Fried's $250 million bail is one of the largest ever posted. But one friend of Donald Trump has also posted that amount, with others set in the billions. Many were reduced on appeal, like a Texas murderer's $4 billion that was set by a grumpy official. But SBF's massive bail pales in comparison with the $3 billion set for Robert Durst in 2003, or a Texas murderer's $4 billion. They were later reduced on appeal, but Trump associate, Tom Barrack, has also posted $250 million for bail.

☆ Many of Donald Trump's legal problems are coming to an end as he launches his 3rd presidential run — but the biggest risks remain
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-27 | by ( Jacob Shamsian | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Donald Trump has steadfastly settled a number of major legal headaches in the lead-up to his 2024 run. In the lead-up to his announcement this month announcing a third presidential run, he cleared many of them away. Some of Trump's legal headaches he just can't get rid of, no matter how hard he rages. ...with a few major exceptionsTrump's most severe legal problems are also the ones he will have the most difficulty getting rid of. Trump's efforts to stay in power despite the will of American voters have also drawn scrutiny in Georgia.

☆ Donald Trump calls for the release of hundreds of his supporters arrested in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump called for the release of those arrested in connection with the Capitol riot. Trump has previously expressed sympathy for the rioters and suggested he would pardon them if re-elected. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyFormer President Donald Trump called for the release of those arrested in connection with the Capitol riot. Trump said that the verdict "greatly set the Radical Left back" and listed various examples of what he framed as right-wing injustices. Then-US President Donald Trump greets the crowd at the "Stop The Steal" Rally on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC.

Former President Donald Trump’s longtime friend and former fundraiser, Tom Barrack, was found not guilty Friday of charges that he acted as an unregistered foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates during the Trump administration and then lied to the FBI about those contacts. In addition, he was charged with obstruction of justice and lying to the FBI about his UAE contacts during a 2019 interview with federal agents. Prosecutors largely built their case around texts and email messages Barrack and Grimes exchanged with an Emirati businessman named Rashid Al Malik, whom they described as their go-between for the pair's dealings with Emirati officials. The messages showed UAE officials giving feedback to Barrack about what he should say in TV interviews and input about what Trump should say about energy policy in a 2016 campaign speech. Barrack denied sharing that information while testifying in his own defense, and also denied having lied to the FBI.

☆ Trump advisor Tom Barrack acquitted on charges of lobbying for a foreign government
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-04 | by ( Rebecca Cohen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Trump ally Tom Barrack was acquitted on charges Friday of lobbying for a foreign government. Prosecutors alleged Barrack used his friendship with Trump to give UAE officials inside access to the administration. Prosecutors alleged that Barrack used his friendship with Trump to provide UAE officials with inside access to Trump's administration and his 2016 campaign. "I'm so moved by them and the system," Barrack said of the jury after being acquitted Friday, NBC News reported. Barrack's co-defendant, former aide Matthew Grimes, was also acquitted of charges of acting as an unregistered foreign agent.

Barrack was also acquitted of obstruction of justice and making false statements to FBI agents in 2019 about his interactions with Emirati officials and their representatives. Barrack raised money for Trump during the 2016 campaign and chaired Trump's 2017 inaugural committee. Also receiving a pardon was Paul Manafort, Trump's 2016 campaign chairman, who had been found guilty in 2018 of financial wrongdoing and sentenced to 7-1/2 years in prison. During his testimony, Barrack told jurors he never agreed to be a UAE agent or asked Trump for a pardon. Barrack's lawyers acknowledged that he sometimes sought feedback from Emirati officials, but that any impact on U.S. policy or public opinion was insignificant.

☆ Jury weighs whether Trump ally Barrack was a foreign agent and lied about it
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/3] Tom Barrack watches jury selection in a courtroom sketch in New York City, U.S. September 19, 2022. Tom Barrack, a private equity executive and onetime fundraiser for former President Donald Trump is charged with acting as a foreign agent without notifying the U.S. government as required. Barrack, 75, is also accused of obstruction of justice and making false statements to FBI agents in 2019 about his interactions with Emirati officials and their representatives. Barrack testified in his own defense during the trial, telling jurors he never agreed to be a UAE agent. Sam Nitze, a prosecutor, countered in a rebuttal that Emirati officials were "thrilled" at Barrack's comments about the country and its leaders during television interviews.

☆ Jury begins deliberating in Trump ally Barrack's 'foreign agent' trial
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

He argues that even when his interests aligned with the UAE's, he was acting on his own accord and not subject to Abu Dhabi's direction. Barrack's lawyers did not dispute that he had been in touch with Emirati officials and occasionally sought their feedback, but they said any impact on U.S. policy or public opinion was insignificant. Sam Nitze, a prosecutor, countered in a rebuttal that Emirati officials were "thrilled" at Barrack's comments about the country and its leaders during television interviews. He said the law was designed to make sure the U.S. government knew when someone was acting as a "mouthpiece" for a foreign government. Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York, Editing by William MacleanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Barrack, 75, is charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent, obstruction of justice and making false statements to the FBI. Prosecutors allege he used his decades-long friendship with Trump to “illegally provide” government officials from the UAE with access to — and information about — the president and top officials. Jackson told jurors that the government’s claim of overwhelming evidence against Barrack was “a joke,” and that there was “nothing nefarious” about his client’s dealings with Emirati officials. Jackson further argued the government had no direct evidence that Barrack had struck a deal with the UAE. Grimes' attorney, Abbe Lowell, disputed that his client was an unregistered foreign agent, saying he did what his boss Barrack told him to do, not what UAE officials requested.

☆ Trump ally Barrack traded access for UAE money, prosecutors say as trial nears end
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] Thomas Barrack, a billionaire friend of Donald Trump who chaired the former president's inaugural fund, exits the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., October 3, 2022. Abu Dhabi then invested $374 million from its sovereign wealth funds with Barrack, prosecutors say. "Mr. Barrack traded his political access for a long-term relationship with top UAE officials ... who controlled vast oil wealth," Ryan Harris, an assistant U.S. attorney, told jurors on Tuesday. Barrack himself took the stand last week, testifying that he never agreed to act at Abu Dhabi's direction or control. Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Jonathan OatisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

After he received the request, Barrack said, he turned to employees at his private equity fund, Colony Capital, to draft Trump's remarks. Prosecutors allege that in doing so, Barrack was trying to cash in on his ties to Trump while acting as an unregistered foreign agent for the UAE. Barrack testified that one of the points of the energy comments was to reassure foreign governments after a blistering speech Trump had given about foreign policy, in which he bashed China and Middle Eastern countries. Barrack testified that he, indeed, ran the draft speech by his UAE contacts and wound up incorporating some of their suggestions. But Trump and his campaign essentially threw out that version of the speech, Barrack said, in favor of one he considered "imbecilic."

☆ Barrack testifies he told Trump to use Khashoggi murder to end Qatar blockade
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Barrack, 75, is not charged with acting as a Saudi agent, but the country is close with the UAE. U.S. intelligence says the murder of Khashoggi, a Saudi insider-turned-critic, was approved by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler. The blockade of Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and others began in 2017. Prosecutors say that during the blockade, Barrack told Rashid Al Malik - an associate also accused of being an Emirati agent - that the United States was considering hosting a summit to resolve the conflict. Al Malik, who is at large, then told UAE officials about the possible meeting, prosecutors say.

☆ Trump ally Barrack can be questioned on Khashoggi comments, Saudi nuclear plans
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

While Barrack is not charged with acting as a Saudi agent, the country and the UAE are close allies. Cogan also said he would let prosecutors ask Barrack about a plan he pushed in the early days of the Trump administration to construct 40 nuclear plants in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the Middle East. Barrack is not charged with any crimes over the civil nuclear plan, which fell through. One of prosecutors' major charges is that Emirati officials provided input to Barrack on what Trump should say in the speech. Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; editing by Jonathan Oatis and David GregorioOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Trump was seen as someone who couldn't properly spell 'Middle East,' according to the former president's advisor and billionaire friend
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Tom Barrack, a billionaire financier, took the stand on Monday during his own criminal trial. Barrack testified that his clients mocked Trump's spelling skills, according to The Times of Israel. In a risky move, Tom Barrack, founder of Colony Capital, took the stand on Monday for his own criminal trial. The former president was seen as someone who "could not spell 'Middle East,' Barrack testified, according to The Times of Israel. It's unclear if the two are still friends, but they have spoken at least once since Barrack's trial began in September, a source told CBS News.

☆ Trump's billionaire friend Tom Barrack reportedly called his ties to the former president 'disastrous' for his business
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Sophia Ankel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former Trump advisor Tom Barrack is charged with illegal lobbying on behalf of the UAE. In testimony on Monday, the billionaire reportedly said Trump was "disastrous" for his business. The billionaire has been charged with illegally lobbying the Trump administration on behalf of the United Arab Emirates between 2016 and 2018. Barrack was charged in July of last year and his trial began earlier this month. A day before the testimony, Trump took to Truth Social to support Barrack, calling him a "highly respected businessman" who is "being unfairly persecuted."

Barrack, 75, is charged with acting as an unregistered foreign agent and lying to the FBI. Prosecutors said UAE officials also pressed Barrack for details on who Trump would pick for various high-level jobs, including CIA director and at the State and Defense departments. Barrack's lawyers have said their client is his own man and was doing what he thought was right — not acting as an Emirati agent. Even viewed in the light most favorable to the government, the evidence shows only that the 'UAE' sometimes asked Mr. Barrack to do something, or to consider doing something, and Mr. Barrack then decided for himself whether he would do it or not." He said that Barrack had pushed him to convince then-President Trump to support Qatar in a blockade over the UAE.

They say Emirati sovereign wealth funds invested $374 million in Barrack's private equity firm Colony Capital, now known as DigitalBridge Group Inc (DBRG.N), in 2017 and 2018. Barrack's defense has argued his close relationship with Qatar shows he was not an Emirati agent. To prove Barrack was a UAE agent, prosecutors must prove he agreed to act under the Middle Eastern country's direction or control. In a post on his Truth Social platform on Sunday night, Trump said he did not believe Barrack was a UAE agent, and that Barrack never spoke to him about speeches or "what to say on this subject." "Tom Barrack is a highly respected businessman whose DREAM was to see PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, a very good and noble thing," Trump wrote.

☆ Trump ally Barrack to testify in own defense at ‘foreign agent’ trial
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK — Tom Barrack, a onetime fundraiser for former U.S. President Donald Trump, is expected to take the witness stand in his own defense next week in his trial on charges of being an illegal foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates. Barrack’s lawyer Randall Jackson said in open court on Friday that Barrack would the stand Friday afternoon. Later, prosecutor Sam Nitze said he expected to take substantial time to cross-examine the current witness, former Barrack lawyer Brady Cassis, meaning Barrack would not take the stand Friday. Barrack, 75, has pleaded not guilty, as has his co-defendant Grimes. Even in instances where his interests and goals aligned with the UAE’s, he was acting on his own volition, they said.

☆ Trump ally Barrack to testify in own defense at 'foreign agent' trial
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Luc Cohen | Thomson Reuters | Reports On The New York Federal Courts. Previously Worked As A Correspondent In Venezuela | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Companies DigitalBridge Group Inc FollowNEW YORK, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Tom Barrack, a onetime fundraiser for former U.S. President Donald Trump, is expected to take the witness stand in his own defense next week in his trial on charges of being an illegal foreign agent for the United Arab Emirates. Barrack's lawyer Randall Jackson said in open court on Friday that Barrack would the stand Friday afternoon. Later, prosecutor Sam Nitze said he expected to take substantial time to cross-examine the current witness, former Barrack lawyer Brady Cassis, meaning Barrack would not take the stand Friday. Barrack, 75, has pleaded not guilty, as has his co-defendant Grimes. Even in instances where his interests and goals aligned with the UAE's, he was acting on his own volition, they said.

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn say Barrack, 75, used his influence with the Trump campaign and administration to push the United Arab Emirates' interests without notifying the U.S. attorney general, as required by law. Cogan said there was therefore "some indication of bias" from Mnuchin's testimony given that the UAE would likely not want a jury to convict Barrack. He said he would nonetheless limit prosecutors' ability to detail the "mind-boggling" amounts of money involved in Mnuchin's dealings with the UAE. The trial began on Sept. 19, and prosecutors rested their case earlier this week. Mnuchin is not the first former Trump administration official to take the stand in the case.

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