Former U.S. Ambassador Richard Olson Pleads Guilty to Illegal Foreign Lobbying

In a court filing last month, former U.S. Amb. Richard Olson said he will plead guilty to illegal lobbying and failing to disclose gifts he received when he held that position. In late March, the Justice Department charged the former ambassador to Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates with making false statements in ethics documents about the gifts he received—including first class plane tickets and stays at hotels—as well as illegally lobbying for the government of Qatar. The filings state that the gifts, as well as monthly payments of $20,000, were paid to Olson by an unnamed Pakistani American lobbyist associated with a Qatari official. You can read the complaint here and below.