Tom Barrack, a longtime ally of the former United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump, was found not guilty of illegal foreign lobbying charges at a federal trial on Friday.
He was accused of improperly acting as a foreign agent on behalf of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A jury of five men and seven women reached the final verdict and acquitted Tom Barrack of all charges, which included conspiracy, obstruction, and lying to the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation).
The verdict led to a tearful celebration in the courtroom among Barrack and his supporters. After the verdict, Barrack expressed appreciation toward the jury. He reportedly said, “God bless America. The system works. I’m so thankful for this system.”
Matthew Grimes, who worked directly for Barrack at the Barrack-founded private equity firm Colony Capital, was also acquitted of charges. Barrack stepped down as CEO of Colony Capital in 2020.
Trump also hailed the judgment. He reportedly said, “Great news for our Country, Freedom, and Democracy. My great respect goes out to the jurors for their courage.”
The Justice Department previously accused Barrack of illegally lobbying the campaign for Trump while he was running for and serving as president. Earlier, he was charged in a seven-count indictment in Brooklyn, New York, federal court. The indictment noted that Barrack informally advised American officials on Middle East policy. Prosecutors also accused Barrack of lying to federal investigators when they questioned him about his ties with the UAE. Prosecutors also accused Grimes of taking more than 50 international trips on Barrack’s private plane. The prosecutors have been investigating Barrack’s alleged work on behalf of the UAE for more than two years.
Last year, Barrack was also arrested in Los Angeles on federal charges of illegally lobbying Trump on behalf of the UAE. Grimes was also arrested in California.