Thomas J. Barrack Jr., a billionaire private equity investor and close ally to former President Donald J. Trump, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges of illegal lobbying for the United Arab Emirates. The not-guilty plea puts Mr. Barrack on course for a high-profile trial that is likely to engulf Mr. Trump and the close-knit business world that aided the former president’s rise to power. Mr. Barrack served as a key fund-raiser to Mr. Trump throughout his time in office, including a stint as chairman of Mr. Trump’s inaugural committee. “Of course I am innocent of all these charges, and we will prove that in court,” Mr. Barrack said in a statement. Earlier this week, Mr. Barrack was released on $250 million bond and ordered to wear a GPS location-monitoring bracelet at all times, according to a Justice Department spokesman.

Source: New York Times July 26, 2021 18:25 UTC