www.FARA.us

The Department of Justice in late November 2024 published a batch of 14 new Advisory Opinions that indicate the Department’s latest views on FARA. 

Linda Sun, an aide to New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, has been charged with violating and conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act, visa fraud, alien smuggling, and money laundering conspiracy.

Two Russian nationals, Kostiantyn Kalashnikov and Elena Afanasyeva, remain at large after being charged with conspiracy to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Pierre Girgis, a dual U.S.-Egyptian citizen, was originally charged in 2022 with acting as an unregistered agent of the Egyptian government, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 951. 

On July 17, 2024, the Department of Justice announced charges against Sue Mi Terry for violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act.  Ms. Terry was a former CIA analyst and U.S. National Security Council official who is alleged to have acted as an unregistered “agent” of the South Korean government following her federal service.  

On July 26, 2024, a jury convicted U.S. Senator Robert Menendez of 16 counts of bribery, honest services fraud, extortion, conspiracy, and acting as a foreign agent for the Government of Egypt. 

Last week, the Department of Justice’s FARA Unit released 15 new Advisory Opinions.  Here are our main takeaways 

Late last week, a D.C. Circuit Court panel affirmed a prior District Court dismissal of a civil suit brought in 2021 by the Department of Justice that had sought to compel casino magnate Steve Wynn to register retroactively as a FARA “agent” for the People’s Republic of China. 

Earlier this month, an indictment was unsealed in the Southern District of Texas charging Congressman Henry Cuellar and his wife, Imelda, with participating in schemes involving bribery, unlawful foreign influence, and money laundering.

On January 3, 2024, the Department of Justice announced that Barry Bennett and Douglas Watts entered into Deferred Prosecution Agreements.