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The Brookings Institution, a respected DC research firm, on Wednesday left its president, retired Marine General John R. Allen, on administrative leave amid a federal investigation into his activities on behalf of the Qatari government years ago.
Allen, a former prominent military commander who led all U.S. military forces in Afghanistan, is suspected of secretly lobbying the Trump administration to soften criticism of the oil-rich nation during a tense period in 2017 when Saudi Arabia and others Gulf states have imposed harsh economic measures against the Qatari government over allegations that it supports Islamic extremists, according to court records. Federal prosecutors also allege that Allen tried to obstruct the investigation by trying to conceal evidence and lie to the authorities, the documents show.
Allen met with senior Qatari leaders in 2017, before his appointment as president of the Brookings Institution. He was a part-time senior at the time and said law enforcement officials used his Brookings email to communicate with Trump officials, including then-White House National Security Adviser Lieutenant General HR McMaster.
Informing staff of their decision to put Allen on administrative leave, two members of the institute’s board of trustees, Glen Hutchins and Susan Nora Johnson, wrote in an email: “We want to assure you that Brookings is not the subject of this investigation. Brookings has strong policies to ban donors from conducting research.
The Qatari government was once one of Brookings’ most important financial backers, according to the Associated Press, which this week revealed the contents of a 77-page search warrant request detailing FBI allegations. The group no longer receives funding from the Qatari government, Brookings said, although the country agreed in 2013 to donate nearly $ 15 million to the institute.
A former US diplomat has pleaded guilty to lobbying in Qatar, the general said
Allen’s spokesman Bo Phillips issued a statement Wednesday night calling the law enforcement account detailed in the search warrant “factually inaccurate, incomplete and misleading.”
“General Allen has done nothing illegal or illegal, has never acted as an agent of Qatar or a foreign government or principal, and has never obstructed justice,” the statement said. “Through decades of public service in battle and diplomacy, General Allen has earned an incomparable, impeccable reputation for honor and integrity. We look forward to correcting the lies about General Allen that have been incorrectly published on this issue. “
The application for a search warrant, dated April 15 and seeking approval from the court to search the retired general’s digital communications, appears to have been made public by mistake, the AP reported. It says Richard G. Olson, a former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates who pleaded guilty last week to a secret lobbying campaign, and political donor Imaad Zuberi have included the retired general in a scheme to brighten Qatar’s image. during the diplomatic crisis.
The FBI claims that during an interview with authorities in 2020, Allen gave a “fake version of events”, saying he was helping to set up a military council. Law enforcement officials also claim that Allen did not provide the relevant emails, according to the application for a search warrant.
US law requires those who lobby on behalf of other governments to be registered with the Department of Justice.
The search warrant includes the text of an email sent by Alan to McMaster, asking the administration to issue a statement calling on the Gulf states to end their blockade of vital transit links and to “act with restraint”.
“What they want is a follow-up signal to the WH or DOS region for a simple statement from the United States,” Allen wrote to the Qataris, citing the White House or the State Department. Then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson soon issued a statement calling for “calm and thoughtful dialogue.”
This was a reversal of statements by President Donald Trump days earlier, which included allegations of terrorism funded by Qatar.
Zuberi, who was sentenced last year to 12 years in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion, campaign finance violations and allegations that he did not register as a foreign agent, agreed to pay Alan $ 20,000 in lecturer fees. for a visit to Qatar and to cover the first trip to and from Doha, court documents say, but investigators say they have found no evidence that Allen received the speaker’s fee.
Spencer S. Hsu contributed to this report.
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