Singled Out by Trump, Qatar Hires Ashcroft’s Firm
- Former Bush Attorney General Aschroft to lead effort
- ‘Urgent need to commence work immediately’ given circumstances
epa06011227 (FILE) - An aerial view of high-rise buildings emerging through fog covering the skyline of Doha, as the sun rises over the city, in Doha, Qatar, 15 February 2014 (reissued 05 June 2017). According to media reports, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar on 05 June 2017, accusing Qatar of supporting terrorism. EPA/YOAN VALAT
Photographer: Yoan Valat/EPAThe government of Qatar, blockaded by its neighbors and singled out for supporting terror in recent days by President Donald Trump, has hired the firm of former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft for services that could include lobbying, according to disclosures released by the Justice Department.
Qatar is paying Ashcroft’s firm $2.5 million to represent it in connection with its efforts to combat global terrorism and comply with U.S. money laundering and counterterrorism financing regulations, according to the four-page contract filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which requires lobbyists for foreign clients to disclose information about their activities. In an appearance Friday with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Trump called Qatar a "funder of terrorism at a very high level."