Former US envoy to Pakistan sentenced for illegal foreign influence

WASHINGTON: Former US ambassador to Pakistan Richard G. Olson has been sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay a $93,350 fine for his involvement in improperly assisting a wealthy Persian Gulf country to influence US policy.

According to media reports, Olson, who served as the State Department’s special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan at the end of the Obama administration, pleaded guilty last year to two misdemeanors, including violating a “revolving door” prohibition for high-level government employees and aiding a foreign country while no longer in public service.

The reports said that US Magistrate Judge G. Michael Harvey presided over the sentencing hearing and determined that while a substantial fine was warranted for Olson’s misconduct, imprisonment was not necessary. Harvey emphasised the public’s expectation of exemplary behaviour from top diplomats.

Prosecutors had argued that Olson attempted to conceal his actions by deleting emails and lying to the FBI. They also noted that he accepted first-class travel from Zuberi while assisting in lobbying members of Congress to approve weapons sales to foreign countries.

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Meanwhile, a prosecutor in the Justice Department’s national security division Evan Turgeon asserted that imprisonment was needed to deter other high-ranking public officials from behaving similarly. Olson’s defence contended that he had not acted improperly in his official capacity and that prosecutors were unfairly stretching the facts to fit a biased narrative.

In a brief statement before the ruling, Olson expressed remorse and mentioned the personal and professional repercussions he had faced, including social and career isolation.

Notably, Olson is the sole former government official associated with Zuberi to face criminal charges. Despite prosecutors alleging pervasive foreign interference in US elections and policy-making by Zuberi, no further charges have been filed.

An Associated Press investigation had previously revealed Zuberi’s involvement in gaining access to top US officials through illegal campaign contributions.

The investigation also discovered cases where Zuberi-linked donations to members of Congress seemed to result in favours for him. It was also revealed that he donated to Washington advocacy groups, lobbying firms, and public relations agencies, hiring former officials for his business projects, including Olson, Gen. Wesley Clark, and John Sandweg from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Earlier this year, prosecutors stopped a related investigation into Gen. John Allen’s role in helping Qatar shape U.S. policy in 2017, alongside Zuberi and Olson. The investigation revealed that Allen advised Qatar to use various information operations, including covert methods, for its influence campaign in Washington.

Qatar, a wealthy Persian Gulf monarchy, has invested significantly in its influence efforts within the United States. Olson stated that his motivation to assist Qatar stemmed from his belief that it was in the best interest of the US, expressing regret over recruiting Gen. John Allen into the effort due to subsequent negative publicity. Allen has denied any wrongdoing but stepped down as president of the Brookings Institution amid the FBI investigation.

The case underscores ongoing efforts by the Justice Department to crack down on unreported or illegal influence campaigns funded by foreign governments aimed at altering US policy.