The UAE US election meddling has been one of the most brazen attempts of influencing the politics of a foreign nation. Emirati Crown Prince MbZ has been the mastermind behind the lobbying efforts and illegal funnelling of money, which used several diplomats from multiple nations.
A complicated web of foreign diplomats that held the political structure of the United States is slowly trapping its own contributors. The 2016 US elections, which crowned Donald Trump as the president, used the jewels that came from other countries, including Russia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While Trump is now running to become the president for next four years, the blasts from his past are exploding in delayed episodes.
Part of the network involved in the UAE US election meddling, a Lebanese American businessman, Ahmad “Andy” Khawaja was arrested on September 3 in Lithuania, after 10 months as an international fugitive. In December 2019, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) charged Khawaja, along with the UAE’s adviser George Nader and seven others, with conspiring to make and conceal huge campaign contributions that allowed foreign interference in American politics.
In history’s one of the most audacious attempt of influencing elections to gain control over a country’s policies, it was UAE’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed (MbZ) who funneled millions of dollars through a channel of top level delegates. Initiated through MbZ’s trusted emissary, Nader, the conduit involved the CEO of an online payment processing firm Allied Wallet, Khawaja.
The attempt to gain influence led to an illicit funnelling of $3.5 million, where Khawaja was used as part of the UAE US election meddling by Nader, who was working for the Emirati rulers. Besides, another $1 million were donated by Khawaja’s company to Donald Trump’s inaugural committee, following his electoral win. Messages exchange between Khawaja and Nader on WhatsApp messenger suggested that they used to discuss plans on the reimbursement of Khawaja’s donations through another source, possibly the UAE.
Leaked emails revealed that Andy Khawaja also brought George Nader as his guest to the inauguration. Besides, a form sent by the California businessman to the inaugural committee described Nader as an “adviser” to Allied Wallet. In an attempt to downplay the UAE businessman’s ties with his firm, Khawaja gave false statements, and was also charged with obstructing the investigations.
Nader, who was also indicted by the DOJ was also charged with conspiring along with Khawaja, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of possessing child pornography, in June 2020. MbZ’s former adviser has also been one of the key witness in the special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into the UAE US election meddling in 2016.
The probe that concluded in March 2019 confirmed that George Nader attempted to cultivate ties with Trump and his administration on behalf of UAE’s MbZ. Besides, shortly before the inauguration, Nader, along with UAE’s envoy to the US Yousef Al Otaiba, arranged a meeting for the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince in Seychelles. On 11 January 2017, MbZ became the link between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, when he met Putin’s associate Kirill Dmitriev and Blackwater owner Erik Prince, who was a Republican donor with ties to Trump.
The lobbying efforts witnessed in the UAE US election meddling also involved other instances, where Crown Prince Mohammed was revealed of meeting some of the top American diplomats at Trump Tower in New York. In December 2016, MbZ met with the Trump’s campaign advisers Steve Bannon, Michael Flynn and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Besides, MbZ, along with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also met Donald Trump Jr. in August 2016 to offer help to Trump’s team for winning the 2016 elections.
For the UAE, Donald Trump has been an easy target to manipulate the US policies in favor of the Middle East. Email leaks revealed how MbZ created contacts with top American diplomats, including Trump Jr., Kushner, Bannon, Elliot Broidy, Tom Barrack and others, using his emissaries like Otaiba and Nader.
In the UAE US election meddling, the Emirati rulers were found involved in illegal funnelling of money and lobbying of the American officials. As the next US elections are nearing and Trump is running for President again, it begs the question whether or not the UAE has started promoting Donald Trump to continue availing political perks like old times?
