US businessmen pursued contracts from UAE, Saudi princes using access to Oval Office

by Diana Stancy Correll

| May 22, 2018 12:10 AM

Two U.S. businessmen tried to secure large consulting contracts from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia in exchange for access to President Trump and the opportunity to sway U.S. foreign policy that could negatively impact Qatar, according to a new report.

Elliott Broidy, a GOP fundraiser, and George Nader, an adviser to the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, advertised their access to Trump as they pursued million-dollar contracts from the Arab countries, according to interviews and emails obtained by the Associated Press.

It had been reported by the New York Times that both men had advocated for U.A.E. and Saudi Arabian interests, but their efforts to undercut the U.S.’s relationship with Qatar were not previously known.

Broidy and Nader were seeking to expose Qatar's ties to Iran, a political opponent of Saudi Arabia, as part of a multimillion-dollar plan to have the U.S. convince Qatar to take “coercive action against Iran," including sharing proof that Qatar backed controversial groups like the Muslim Brotherhood.

According to summaries of meetings Broidy had with Trump, he relayed positive words to Trump from princes of the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, Broidy attempted to convince Trump to not get involved in the conflict between a Saudi-led coalition of Arab states and Qatar as well as to arrange a meeting with the Abu Dhabi crown prince, Mohammed bin Zayed.

Both of the men were not registered under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which demands lobbyists reveal their connections and work conducted for foreign governments, per the Associated Press.

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