Latest news with #ForeignAgentsRegistrationAct
New York Post
11 hours ago
- Politics
- New York Post
Hunter Biden special counsel David Weiss claimed his team ‘couldn't prove' first son was foreign agent: testimony
WASHINGTON — House Republicans released long-anticipated testimony from former Delaware US Attorney David Weiss on Monday, revealing that the prosecutors of former first son Hunter Biden felt they lacked sufficient evidence to prove he acted as a foreign agent. Weiss, who brought tax and gun crime cases against the Hunter, now 55, admitted in a June 6 interview with the House Judiciary Committee that he 'personally' considered bringing charges under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) but dropped the matter when his team 'couldn't prove it.' 3 House Republicans released long-anticipated testimony from former Delaware US Attorney David Weiss on Monday. Getty Images Advertisement 3 Weiss 'personally' considered bringing charges against Hunter Biden under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) but dropped the matter when his team 'couldn't prove it.' AFP via Getty Images '[W]e didn't have enough evidence to prove that Hunter Biden had acted as a — as an agent of a foreign principal and had engaged in political activity in that regard. We just couldn't put together a sufficient case,' Weiss said, according to a transcript of the interview released by the Judiciary panel. '[W]hat I'd say is personally I viewed consideration of a FARA charge — I did give some credence to whether the agent was acting on behalf of a foreign government as opposed to a foreign principal — a foreign individual or a foreign private corporation,' added the former Delaware US attorney. Advertisement 'I do view them differently. However, the statute encompasses — the way it's written, it would encompass both activity. But I do agree, as your question suggested, there is — in my mind, there is a difference in the seriousness or the — of the conduct that you're talking about, acting on behalf of a foreign government versus a foreign corporation.' A House Republican impeachment inquiry dug up instances of Hunter Biden invoking his father's name to secure lucrative business deals and engage with clients from Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russia and China. 3 Joe Biden repeatedly denied ever interacting with any of his son's business associates — despite emails and witness testimonies contradicting his claims — and claimed that Hunter had 'done nothing wrong' in his work abroad. Joe Biden repeatedly denied ever interacting with any of his son's business associates — despite emails and witness testimonies contradicting his claims — and claimed that Hunter had 'done nothing wrong' in his work abroad. This is a developing story. Please check back for more information.
New York Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Justice Dept. to Move Ahead With Bribery Case Against Cuellar
The Justice Department is moving ahead with its bribery case against Representative Henry Cuellar after an internal debate, despite President Trump's public expressions of support for the embattled Democrat from Texas, according to three people with knowledge of the situation. The department is, however, expected to withdraw charges against Mr. Cuellar under the Foreign Agents Registration Act stemming from his business dealings with Azerbaijan and Mexican citizens in accordance with Attorney General Pam Bondi's blanket order to scale back such prosecutions under the law, those people said. In May 2024, Mr. Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, were indicted by a federal grand jury in Houston on charges of participating in a yearslong $600,000 bribery scheme involving Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank. The congressman, who, as a native of Laredo, represents a swing district on the southern border at the center of Mr. Trump's immigration push, was accused of bribery and money laundering on behalf of an oil and gas company owned by Azerbaijan's leaders. Shortly after Ms. Bondi announced in February that she would narrow enforcement of foreign lobbying and bribery laws, a lawyer for Mr. Cuellar suggested he would assess the new tack and determine whether to raise it with the department. In mid-May of this year, Matthew R. Galeotti, an assistant attorney general, told Mr. Cuellar's legal team that prosecutors in the department's criminal and national security divisions had rejected the congressman's request that the case be dismissed, according to people briefed on the exchange who requested anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The dismissal request by Mr. Cuellar's lawyer, Seth D. DuCharme — the former top federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of New York — tracked closely with Mr. Trump's own legal and political strategy. He claimed that the Biden administration had weaponized the Justice Department to target Mr. Cuellar, the people familiar with the matter said. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
JAMnews
01-07-2025
- Politics
- JAMnews
IPI urges the EU to protect journalists in Georgia
IPI urges the EU to protect journalists in Georgia The International Press Institute (IPI) issued a statement on the growing pressure the Georgian government is placing on the media, urging the international community to take immediate and effective action against the ruling party, Georgian Dream. The statement highlights the worsening health of detained journalist Mzia Amaglobeli and notes that the Georgian Dream government has adopted new legislative amendments concerning defamation and bans on media filming inside and outside courtrooms. According to IPI, these amendments pose a threat to the foundations of independent journalism in Georgia, as independent media have extensively covered trials of individuals arrested for their political views. IPI's statement Each day, Georgia moves closer to becoming a fully consolidated authoritarian regime, as the ruling Georgian Dream party intensifies its efforts to erode democracy and silence independent voices. The adoption of repressive, undemocratic and illiberal legislation, along with widespread political persecution, is unfolding at an unprecedented scale in Georgia-an EU candidate country once widely considered as a beacon of democracy in the South Caucasus. These amendments erode fundamental legal protections for journalism by eliminating source confidentiality, fostering self-censorship, and obstructing investigative reporting. These combined changes threaten the very foundations of independent journalism in Georgia. Mzia Amaglobeli's health has further deteriorated in prison. Medical examinations revealed a sharp decline: vision in her right eye had dropped from 30% to 10%, while her left eye retained only about 4% vision. An outspoken regime critic, Amaglobeli faces charges of assaulting a police officer – carrying up to seven years in prison – following an altercation with Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze. Amaglobeli's arrest is widely viewed as retaliation for her journalistic work. Media workers have been beaten, harassed, detained, jailed, smeared, fined and still continued their work. Amid explicit hostility and a climate of fear, independent journalism is increasingly unlikely to survive in Georgia. The erosion of civil liberties at an extraordinary pace in Georgia also poses a serious threat to democracy in the region, where far-right and populism are on the rise and illiberal and authoritarian regimes are increasingly gaining ground. We renew our call on the European Union and its member states to step up pressure on Georgia and stem the rapid descent into authoritarianism. The effective pressure must be applied to not only the Georgian Dream officials but every decision maker as well as judges, responsible for this crackdown on media, capture of the public broadcaster and ongoing impunity for crimes against journalists. We also renew our call on the GD party to repeal repressive laws, including the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and recent amendments to the Law on Broadcasting and the Law on Grants. We further urge the Georgian Dream-led parliament to withdraw the recently adopted amendments to the Law on Freedom of Expression, as well as the amendments restricting media coverage of court proceedings. We reiterate our call for the release of unjustly jailed veteran Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, who has become a symbol of the resilience of Georgian media.' The law on the registration of foreign agents, an exact copy of the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), was passed by the Georgian Dream-controlled parliament on April 1, 2025, and came into force on May 31. Authorities claim its purpose is to limit foreign interference in the country's affairs and in the work of state institutions. The law introduces a broad definition of 'foreign agent,' applying to any legal or natural person receiving funds from abroad and engaging in civic, political, or informational activities. Such individuals or organizations are required to register; failure to comply is punishable by fines and imprisonment of up to five years. Independent legal experts confirm that while the text closely mirrors the U.S. FARA, its purpose has been entirely altered. In the United States, FARA is deliberately not applied to NGOs, media, or organizations serving the public interest. In addition, in April 2025, Georgia's parliament passed a law banning the issuance or receipt of foreign grants without official approval from the Georgian government. News in Georgia
Economic Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
'Don't talk to me, insult me publicly': Pam Bondi grilled, left scrambling over sketchy Qatar past
US Attorney General Pam Bondi testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Justice in Washington, D.C. where she was grilled for her sketchy past with Qatar which she did not disclose before the Senate. President Trump recently received a $400 million luxury jet from Qatar which sparked legal concerns as Bondi worked as a foreign lobbyist for the nation of Qatar. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pam Bondi grilled over Qatar links Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Pam Bondi and Qatar jet plane link Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Attorney General Pam Bondi came under bipartisan pressure Monday from lawmakers during the House Appropriations Subcommittee when she was asked about her past work in Qatar. She was grilled while appearing for the subcommittee and was asked questions about her sketchy past about Qatar, which she didn't disclose before the the hearing, US Capitol Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) asked Bondi she had ever been registered as an agent of a foreign principal under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). "The three hallmarks of this administration are incompetence, corruption, and cruelty," Dean said."Attorney General, have you ever been registered as an agent of a foreign principal under the Foreign Agents Registration Act?"To this, Pam Bondi replied, "I assume you're talking about when I represented the country of Qatar for a very short time." Bondi said she worked on anti-human trafficking for the World Cup. "Hold on," Dean said, to which Bondi, 59, replied, "You can't put words in my mouth! You want to talk about incompetence? You're the one that said Joe Biden on PBS was competent. You had to retract those words."But the Congresswoman hit back at the Attorney General, saying, "Don't talk to me. Don't insult me publicly." She then added, "This is so discourteous. This is so outside the Committee's guidelines. Taking a personal shot at me while swiping at Biden? Very strange and very unprofessional of you."Dean continued, "The answer is yes or no, and the answer is yes. You were registered as a lobbyist for Qatar. Is that correct? Yes. Never mind, don't answer." She then asked, "Did you disclose that when you went before the Senate for confirmation? Yes or no? No, it was not in your documents. The answer is no."After Bondi said her role was "discussed," Dean accused the Attorney General of failing to bring up the "conflict" she had. The Pennsylvania politician continued, "President Trump recently announced he'd accept that $400 million Qatari airplane because it was just prettier than the one he was flying around in."Dean asked, "Is it true that you gave advise that this was legally permissible? Yes or no?" Bondi replied, "I will not discuss any advice that my office of legal counsel gives to the president of the United States on any matter."The Congresswoman continued, "When you spoke before the Senate, you said you would ask for ethical advice. Did you recuse yourself from that issue?" Bondi didn't immediately answer the question but hit back at Dean, saying, "And talking about unprofessional, you say the President wanted the jet because it's pretty? This is a Congressional hearing." Dean pointed out, "He said it himself."Pam Bondi's links to Qatar came under scrutiny again after US President Donald Trump received a luxury jet plane from the Qatar government. According to NewsWeek, Bondi worked as a foreign lobbyist for the nation of Qatar, earning $115,000 a month in the role which she held in 2020 and in the run up to the World Cup in her prior professional roles, Bondi was involved in lobbying efforts representing the interests of the State of Qatar. She worked at Ballard Partners, a prominent lobbying firm based in Washington, D.C., where her portfolio included advocacy on behalf of the Qatari government as well as several major US corporations, among them plan to receive a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8 from Qatar unleased new waves of legal concerns over the legality and ethics of such foreign government gifts. Bondi's prior history as a lobbyist for Qatar has compounded concerns over foreign influence at the highest level of government. Her ties to Qatar raised concerns whether she will properly pursue whether the acceptance of this luxury jet is legal or Democrat senators even wrote a letter to the Department of Justice asking for an investigation into Pam Bondi's role in Trump administration's decision to accept the free gift from Qatar. The eight Democrats on the Judiciary Committee raised ethical questions over the gifted plane and expressed concern about reports that Bondi provided legal guidance that approved a plan for the plane to eventually be transferred to Trump's library after he leaves US formally accepted the gift, which industry executives estimated to be worth about $200 million. It will require extensive work before it can be considered secure enough to carry Trump.
Time of India
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
'Don't talk to me, insult me publicly': Pam Bondi grilled, left scrambling over sketchy Qatar past
Attorney General Pam Bondi came under bipartisan pressure Monday from lawmakers during the House Appropriations Subcommittee when she was asked about her past work in Qatar. She was grilled while appearing for the subcommittee and was asked questions about her sketchy past about Qatar, which she didn't disclose before the Senate. During the hearing, US Capitol Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) asked Bondi she had ever been registered as an agent of a foreign principal under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). "The three hallmarks of this administration are incompetence, corruption, and cruelty," Dean said. ALSO READ: Popular influencer with nearly 8 lakh Instagram followers dead post plastic surgery hours after partying with doctor Pam Bondi grilled over Qatar links "Attorney General, have you ever been registered as an agent of a foreign principal under the Foreign Agents Registration Act?" To this, Pam Bondi replied, "I assume you're talking about when I represented the country of Qatar for a very short time." Bondi said she worked on anti-human trafficking for the World Cup. "Hold on," Dean said, to which Bondi, 59, replied, "You can't put words in my mouth! You want to talk about incompetence? You're the one that said Joe Biden on PBS was competent. You had to retract those words." Live Events But the Congresswoman hit back at the Attorney General, saying, "Don't talk to me. Don't insult me publicly." She then added, "This is so discourteous. This is so outside the Committee's guidelines. Taking a personal shot at me while swiping at Biden? Very strange and very unprofessional of you." Dean continued, "The answer is yes or no, and the answer is yes. You were registered as a lobbyist for Qatar. Is that correct? Yes. Never mind, don't answer." She then asked, "Did you disclose that when you went before the Senate for confirmation? Yes or no? No, it was not in your documents. The answer is no." ALSO READ: 'They don't know what the...': Trump drops 'F bomb' as Iran-Israel ceasefire deal crumbles After Bondi said her role was "discussed," Dean accused the Attorney General of failing to bring up the "conflict" she had. The Pennsylvania politician continued, "President Trump recently announced he'd accept that $400 million Qatari airplane because it was just prettier than the one he was flying around in." Dean asked, "Is it true that you gave advise that this was legally permissible? Yes or no?" Bondi replied, "I will not discuss any advice that my office of legal counsel gives to the president of the United States on any matter." The Congresswoman continued, "When you spoke before the Senate, you said you would ask for ethical advice. Did you recuse yourself from that issue?" Bondi didn't immediately answer the question but hit back at Dean, saying, "And talking about unprofessional, you say the President wanted the jet because it's pretty? This is a Congressional hearing." Dean pointed out, "He said it himself." ALSO READ: 'If you can rent Venice...': Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez's lavish wedding sparks major uproar Pam Bondi and Qatar jet plane link Pam Bondi's links to Qatar came under scrutiny again after US President Donald Trump received a luxury jet plane from the Qatar government. According to NewsWeek, Bondi worked as a foreign lobbyist for the nation of Qatar, earning $115,000 a month in the role which she held in 2020 and in the run up to the World Cup in 2022. In her prior professional roles, Bondi was involved in lobbying efforts representing the interests of the State of Qatar. She worked at Ballard Partners, a prominent lobbying firm based in Washington, D.C., where her portfolio included advocacy on behalf of the Qatari government as well as several major US corporations, among them Amazon. ALSO READ: 'God help us all': Trump's appointment of 22-year-old college grad to terrorism unit amid Iran crisis faces backlash Trump's plan to receive a $400 million luxury Boeing 747-8 from Qatar unleased new waves of legal concerns over the legality and ethics of such foreign government gifts. Bondi's prior history as a lobbyist for Qatar has compounded concerns over foreign influence at the highest level of government. Her ties to Qatar raised concerns whether she will properly pursue whether the acceptance of this luxury jet is legal or not. The Democrat senators even wrote a letter to the Department of Justice asking for an investigation into Pam Bondi's role in Trump administration's decision to accept the free gift from Qatar. The eight Democrats on the Judiciary Committee raised ethical questions over the gifted plane and expressed concern about reports that Bondi provided legal guidance that approved a plan for the plane to eventually be transferred to Trump's library after he leaves office. The US formally accepted the gift, which industry executives estimated to be worth about $200 million. It will require extensive work before it can be considered secure enough to carry Trump.
