Trump inauguration donor charged with obstructing federal investigation News
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Trump inauguration donor charged with obstructing federal investigation

Prosecutors for the Southern District of New York charged Imaad Zuberi, a longtime political donor, with obstruction of justice Tuesday. Zuberi is expected to plead guilty to the charges, according to sources.

The charges stem from a $900,000 payment made to the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC). Prosecutors are specifically alleging that Zuberi gathered outside funds from donors and violated reporting requirements. Prosecutors assert in the charges:

In particular, in or about November 2016, Imaad Zuberi, the defendant, asked Donor-1 to make a substantial donation to PIC, promising Donor-1, in return, exclusive access to inaugural events … the defendant did not in fact inform the PIC or Federal Election Commission that certain of the funds from his $900,000 donation came from others, including Donor-1.

It is also alleged that Zuberi obstructed justice by deleting emails related to the investigation. Prosecutors charge that Zuberi deleted emails from a foreign national who transferred $5.8 million to Zuberi’s account used for his $900,000 PIC donation.

This is not the first time that Zuberi has been in legal jeopardy. He pleaded guilty to lobbying and tax violations in 2019.

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