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Trump Ally Indicted By Federal Grand Jury Has Links To Central Coast

Tom Barrack charged with trying to influence Trump Administration on behalf of foreign government

A major ally of former President Donald Trump who was indicted on charges of trying to influence the government on behalf of another country has ties to the Central Coast.

Tom Barrack was arrested on a seven count indictment Tuesday. Federal prosecutors say he tried to influence the Trump Administration to favor the United Arab Emirates. Barrack chaired Trump’s inaugural committee.

The billionaire entered not guilty pleas during a federal court appearance Tuesday.

Barrack owns a ranch in Santa Barbara County, as well as a Santa Barbara County winery.

He founded Colony Capitol, the investment firm which at one point owned Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Lance Orozco has been News Director of KCLU since 2001, providing award-winning coverage of some of the biggest news events in the region, including the Thomas and Woolsey brush fires, the deadly Montecito debris flow, the Borderline Bar and Grill attack, and Ronald Reagan's funeral.