Tillerson takes stand at Trump ally Barrack’s foreign agent trial

NEW YORK, Oct 3 (Reuters) – Former U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson took the stand on Monday as a prosecution witness within the trial of Tom Barrack, the personal fairness govt and onetime fundraiser for Donald Trump who has been charged with appearing as an unlawful international agent.

Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn say Barrack, 75, used his affect with Trump’s presidential marketing campaign and administration to push the United Arab Emirates’ pursuits with out notifying the U.S. legal professional normal, as required by regulation.

Barrack has pleaded not responsible. His attorneys have stated his contacts with Center Japanese officers have been a part of his function operating Colony Capital, now often known as DigitalBridge Group Inc (DBRG.N), and that the U.S. State Division and the then-president himself have been conscious of Barrack’s interactions.

Tillerson, the previous chief govt of Exxon Mobil Corp, served as Trump’s secretary of state for barely greater than a 12 months between 2017 and 2018.

The trial started with jury choice on Sept. 19. To this point, prosecutors have displayed emails and textual content messages indicating that UAE officers offered suggestions on what Barrack ought to write in an opinion article and what Trump, then a candidate, ought to say in a 2016 vitality speech.

Barrack’s protection has not but had the chance to cross-examine the FBI agent who learn these messages to the jury.

Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; modifying by Jonathan Oatis

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