This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-inauguration-donor-charged-with-obstructing-investigation-into-sources-of-his-contribution/2020/01/07/2a32e500-318c-11ea-91fd-82d4e04a3fac_story.html

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Trump inauguration donor charged with obstructing investigation into sources of his contribution Trump inauguration donor charged with obstructing investigation into sources of his contribution
(30 minutes later)
Federal prosecutors charged a major donor to President Trump’s inaugural committee with obstructing justice, alleging Tuesday that the wealthy investor backdated a check and deleted emails to hinder an investigation into where he got the money he ultimately gave the committee.Federal prosecutors charged a major donor to President Trump’s inaugural committee with obstructing justice, alleging Tuesday that the wealthy investor backdated a check and deleted emails to hinder an investigation into where he got the money he ultimately gave the committee.
Imaad Zuberi — a venture capitalist who gave significant money to Democrats and Republicans over the years — was accused of trying to hide from investigators that a $900,000 donation he made to Trump’s inaugural committee was actually funded by others, court records show.Imaad Zuberi — a venture capitalist who gave significant money to Democrats and Republicans over the years — was accused of trying to hide from investigators that a $900,000 donation he made to Trump’s inaugural committee was actually funded by others, court records show.
Zuberi had pleaded guilty last year in federal court in Los Angeles to an array of charges stemming from a lobbying scheme in which he arranged illegal campaign contributions, hid his work from the government and cheated on his taxes. The new charge was filed in the Southern District of New York as a criminal information — which probably indicates that Zuberi intends to plead guilty to it, too.Zuberi had pleaded guilty last year in federal court in Los Angeles to an array of charges stemming from a lobbying scheme in which he arranged illegal campaign contributions, hid his work from the government and cheated on his taxes. The new charge was filed in the Southern District of New York as a criminal information — which probably indicates that Zuberi intends to plead guilty to it, too.
Attorneys for Zuberi declined to comment, as did a spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office in the Southern District of New York. Attorneys for Zuberi declined to comment, as did a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Zuberi, who ran the Los Angeles-based firm Avenue Ventures and gave millions to various politicians over the years, once seemed a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton, backing her campaign with more than $600,000. But after Trump won the election, Zuberi seemed to change course — giving $900,000 to Trump’s inaugural committee and $100,000 to pay off debt from the 2016 Republican National Convention.Zuberi, who ran the Los Angeles-based firm Avenue Ventures and gave millions to various politicians over the years, once seemed a strong supporter of Hillary Clinton, backing her campaign with more than $600,000. But after Trump won the election, Zuberi seemed to change course — giving $900,000 to Trump’s inaugural committee and $100,000 to pay off debt from the 2016 Republican National Convention.
Inaugural probe puts spotlight on Imaad Zuberi, prolific Democratic donor who rapidly remade himself into a major Trump boosterInaugural probe puts spotlight on Imaad Zuberi, prolific Democratic donor who rapidly remade himself into a major Trump booster
The new charges center on the $900,000 contribution. Prosecutors allege that although Zuberi made it in the name of his firm, Avenue Ventures, it was actually funded by other sources, including a man they identified only as Donor-1.The new charges center on the $900,000 contribution. Prosecutors allege that although Zuberi made it in the name of his firm, Avenue Ventures, it was actually funded by other sources, including a man they identified only as Donor-1.
Prosecutors allege that Zuberi deleted emails to and from people who gave him money around the time he made the donation, including messages with a foreign national who transferred about $5.8 million to the account Zuberi used to pay out the $900,000. When investigators confronted Zuberi about the deletions, he contacted his email service provider to ask how he could ensure that copies of his messages were not stored on a server, prosecutors allege. Prosecutors allege that Zuberi deleted emails to and from people who gave him money around the time he made the donation, including messages with a foreign national who transferred about $5.8 million to the account Zuberi used to pay out the $900,000. When investigators confronted Zuberi about the deletions, he contacted his email service provider to ask how he could ensure that copies of his messages were not stored on a server, prosecutors allege.
The foreign national is identified in court records only as Donor-2.The foreign national is identified in court records only as Donor-2.
Prosecutors allege that Zuberi asked Donor-1 to make a donation to the committee in exchange for exclusive access to inaugural events, and the donor gave Zuberi a $50,000 check. Zuberi, they allege, did not tell the committee or the Federal Election Commission that money was a part of his $900,000 donation. Prosecutors allege that Zuberi asked Donor-1 to make a donation to the committee in exchange for exclusive access to inaugural events, and that the donor gave Zuberi a $50,000 check. Zuberi, they allege, did not tell the committee or the Federal Election Commission that money was a part of his $900,000 donation.
The donor ultimately decided not to attend the inaugural festivities and asked for his money back, federal prosecutors allege. Zuberi, they allege, initially did not do so.The donor ultimately decided not to attend the inaugural festivities and asked for his money back, federal prosecutors allege. Zuberi, they allege, initially did not do so.
Then — in early February — news broke that prosecutors had issued a subpoena to the Trump inaugural committee and were investigating the source of its funds, including Zuberi’s donation. Zuberi, prosecutors allege, requested an in-person meeting with the donor, asking whether he had been contacted by investigators.Then — in early February — news broke that prosecutors had issued a subpoena to the Trump inaugural committee and were investigating the source of its funds, including Zuberi’s donation. Zuberi, prosecutors allege, requested an in-person meeting with the donor, asking whether he had been contacted by investigators.
The donor, prosecutors allege, asked for his money back, and Zuberi initially refused, relenting only when the donor reminded him that the phrase “Inauguration 17” was written on his $50,000 check. Zuberi then wrote his own $50,000 check, calling it a “refund” in the memo line and backdating it to make it seem as though he wrote it before learning of the investigation.The donor, prosecutors allege, asked for his money back, and Zuberi initially refused, relenting only when the donor reminded him that the phrase “Inauguration 17” was written on his $50,000 check. Zuberi then wrote his own $50,000 check, calling it a “refund” in the memo line and backdating it to make it seem as though he wrote it before learning of the investigation.