Thread by @BVanGrack

Next Monday is a big day for the Foreign Agents Registration Act (#FARA) and foreign influence in the US—on top of what has already been a big year (DOJ has charged a record number of people w/ acting as unregistered agents of foreign govts). /1

First, the Tom Barrack trial begins for acting as an unregistered agent of UAE (in violation of 18 USC 951). It’s only the second trial of a person alleged to be acting as a foreign govt agent to influence people in the US (most other cases involve espionage-like activity). /2

Second, Kaveh Afrasiabi is scheduled to plead guilty to violating FARA for acting as an unregistered agent of Iran. Afrasiabi allegedly lobbied a Congressman, counseled Iranian diplomats, made TV appearances, and authored articles to promote Iran govt policies. /3

Safe to assume DOJ has more foreign agent cases to charge before the year is out. /4

justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/p…