Trump inaugural chair Tom Barrack charged with 'conspiracy to illegally advance and promote' foreign government's interests

Tom Barrack
(Image credit: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Thomas Barrack, who served as chair of former President Donald Trump's inaugural committee, has been arrested and charged with allegedly acting illegally as an agent to a foreign government.

Prosecutors on Tuesday accused Barrack and two other defendants of "acting and conspiring to act as agents" of the United Arab Emirates between April 2016 and April 2018. Barrack was an informal adviser to Trump's 2016 campaign, and The Washington Post notes he was one of Trump's "closest associates during the campaign and in office."

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Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.