Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

US Lobbyist Guilty of Accepting Millions to Bid for Foreign Interests

US Lobbyist Guilty of Accepting Millions to Bid for Foreign Interests

A Hawaii businesswoman pleaded guilty on Monday for her role in an “unregistered lobbying campaign” that attempted to influence the U.S. government on behalf of foreign interests. Her testimony may contribute to the future prosecution of other individuals with close connections to the current administration.
Nickie Mali Lum Davis, 45, admitted to receiving over three million dollars to pressure the U.S. President, Attorney General, and other high ranking officials to drop civil and criminal investigations into the embezzlement of billions of dollars from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), and to arrange “the return and the removal” of a Chinese national who has been living in the United States back to his home country, according to the Justice Department.

As part of her guilty plea, prosecutors said that she admitted to have been working with “a prominent official of a national political party with ties to the administration,” who other media outlets have identified as Eliott Broidy, a senior fundraising officer for President Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign who has also worked for the Republican National Committee under previous administrations.

An August 17 court filing describes how Davis and “Person B”, facilitated a meeting between President Trump and then-serving Prime Minister Najib Razak in September of 2017 in order to “to raise the resolution of the 1MDB matter with the President.”

The filing also shows that Davis routed an $8 million retainer fee to “Person B” on behalf of whom the Washington Post identified as Jho Taek Low – who was suspected of masterminding the notorious 1MDB embezzlement scandal in Malaysia – if the investigation was effectively dropped.

The document showed that Low was prepared to offer a $75 million “success fee” if the matter was resolved within 180 days, and a $50 million payment if it was resolved within 365 days.

The media outlet also said that Low – who is believed to be living in exile in China – requested that Broidy help push for the U.S. government to extradite Guo Wengui, a billionaire Chinese national now living in New York who has gained prominence for being vocally critical against the Chinese government, and for his close relationship with Former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon.

In a statement to Mother Jones, Guo said China’s Communist Party has targeted him for “exposing their weaknesses,” and said the case against Davis “is only the tip of a far-ranging campaign the Chinese Communist Party has undertaken utilizing corrupt lawyers, government officials, and so-called lobbyists and political consultants to influence the US government at the highest levels to take action against me.”

The outlet also reported that Davis is likely to avoid prison time in exchange for her cooperation, and that the case against her suggests that “Broidy is drawing intensified federal scrutiny.”

“Though Ms. Davis’s efforts were unsuccessful, this case demonstrates how foreign governments seek to advance their agendas in the United States by hiding behind politically influential proxies,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
×