Trial Begins for Trump Ally Accused of UAE Lobbying

Facts

On Wednesday, opening statements were made in Thomas Barrack's trial. The former Pres. Trump adviser is charged with "espionage-like or clandestine behavior," supposedly acting at the direction of the UAE.
He was indicted in 2021 with his assistant Matthew Grimes on conspiracy and acting as a foreign agent without notifying the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) for allegedly taking advantage of his Trump ties to promote UAE interests. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in jail.
In response to the accusations, Barrack's lawyer claimed that his client did what "he wanted to," deeming the idea that he was working for the UAE as "nothing short of ridiculous."
The trial, which started on Monday with the jury selection, is expected to last a month and marks the latest test of the DOJ's scrutiny of alleged covert foreign influence in Trump's inner circle.
US legislation forbids lobbying activities on behalf of foreign governments or entities without a declaration under the DOJ's Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) database.
Prosecutions of high-profile lobbying cases have had a mixed record so far, with some experts suggesting that the DOJ may rethink using the FARA statute if Barrack is cleared.

Democratic narrative, as provided by The New York Times. While foreign governments have long attempted to influence US politics, they've never found a friendlier administration than Trump's. Both the president and his top aides had little foreign policy experience and could be easily influenced. Trump and his associates made it easier for wealthy Gulf nations to advance their agenda in American politics.
Pro-Trump narrative, as provided by Daily Caller. It's no coincidence that Tom Barrack is among several former Trump officials accused of violating FARA - even though around two-thirds of FARA registrants fail to comply with the timelines. The Biden administration has weaponized the DOJ, prosecuting those who oppose him and using FARA as an excuse for this offensive.