“Special counsel Robert Mueller has asked questions about the work of a private consulting firm that has undertaken projects for the United Arab Emirates… suggesting his probe is looking more deeply at foreign influence in Washington,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Mueller Widens Focus to Adviser to United Arab Emirates
George Nader, a Lebanese-American businessman and an adviser to the de facto ruler of the United Arab Emirates is now a focus of the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller, the New York Times reports.
“In recent weeks, Mr. Mueller’s investigators have questioned Mr. Nader and have pressed witnesses for information about any possible attempts by the Emiratis to buy political influence by directing money to support Mr. Trump during the presidential campaign. The investigators have also asked about Mr. Nader’s role in White House policymaking, those people said, suggesting that the special counsel investigation has broadened beyond Russian election meddling to include Emirati influence on the Trump administration.”
“Mr. Trump has closely allied himself with the Emiratis… Mr. Trump’s endorsement of an Emirati- and Saudi-led blockade against that country has put him openly at odds with his secretary of state — as well as with years of American policy.”
Trump to Host Arab Leaders for Sensitive Talks
President Trump “has accelerated his diplomatic efforts to broker peace among quarreling Arab monarchies, starting with an upcoming series of White House visits by leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates,” Axios reports.
“Sources with knowledge of the negotiations tell us they hope these separate meetings — hugely consequential in their own right — will lead to a peace deal over Qatar in late spring at a summit in Washington or Camp David. That could help end the longstanding dispute over its alleged support for terrorism and ties to Iran.”
Mike Allen: “Unlikely to score a big domestic victory heading into the midterm elections and his own reelection, President Trump is trying a new angle in his effort to broker a meaningful peace deal in the Middle East.”
