GOP Fundraiser Elliott Broidy Under Investigation For Seeking Money To Influence Trump: Report

Lydia O'Connor
Updated

Longtime Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy is under investigation by the Department of Justice for claims he has attempted to sell his influence with President Donald Trump’s administration to foreign officials, three sources familiar with the matter told The Washington Post in a story published Friday.

According to those sources, the DOJ is inquiring as to whether Broidy ― a major Trump fundraiser who’s no stranger to scandal ― promised those foreign officials that the U.S. would deliver on specific government actions in exchange for their paying him tens of millions of dollars. The allegations under scrutiny were leaked in emails sent to HuffPost earlier this year and reported on by several outlets.

As one part of the alleged investigation, prosecutors are looking into whether Broidy tried to convince the Trump administration to extradite a Chinese dissident back to China ― a move desired by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

In another part of the investigation, they are reportedly exploring whether Broidy attempted to earn $75 million from a Malaysian business official in exchange for getting the DOJ to end its investigation of a development fund run by the Malaysian government.

Broidy’s lawyer issued a statement Friday firmly denying those allegations.

In April, Broidy resigned from his position as Republican National Committee deputy finance chairman after after admitting that he’d used Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to reach an agreement to pay $1.6 million to a Playboy model who became pregnant while he was having an extramarital affair with her.

Related Coverage

Leaked Emails Appear To Show A Top Trump Fundraiser Abusing His Power

Playmate Who Had Affair With Major GOP Fundraiser Has Never Met Trump, Sources Say

Also on HuffPost

Trump throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of Puerto Rico residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits Calgary Chapel in San Juan on Oct. 3.
Trump throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of Puerto Rico residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits Calgary Chapel in San Juan on Oct. 3.
Trump reacts as he sits in a truck on March 23 while welcoming truckers and CEOs to attend a meeting at the White House regarding health care.
Trump reacts as he sits in a truck on March 23 while welcoming truckers and CEOs to attend a meeting at the White House regarding health care.
Trump registers his surprise as he realizes other leaders, including Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, are crossing their arms for the traditional "ASEAN handshake" as he participates in the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Summit in Manila, Philippines, on Nov. 13.
Trump, along with first lady Melania Trump, Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, put their hands on an illuminated globe during the inauguration ceremony of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 21.
Trump, along with first lady Melania Trump, Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, put their hands on an illuminated globe during the inauguration ceremony of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 21.
Trump looks up toward the solar eclipse while standing on the Truman Balcony at the White House on Aug. 21.
Trump looks up toward the solar eclipse while standing on the Truman Balcony at the White House on Aug. 21.
Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May are pictured ahead of a photo opportunity of leaders as they arrive for a NATO summit meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on May 25. 
Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May are pictured ahead of a photo opportunity of leaders as they arrive for a NATO summit meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on May 25. 
Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing, China, on Nov. 10.
Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing, China, on Nov. 10.
Trump holds up a pen after signing the HBCU executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on Feb. 28. 
Trump holds up a pen after signing the HBCU executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on Feb. 28. 
Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel wait for reporters to enter the room before their meeting in the Oval Office on March 17.
Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel wait for reporters to enter the room before their meeting in the Oval Office on March 17.
Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7.
Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7.
Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio to the White House on Sept. 15. Frank, who wrote a letter to Trump offering to mow the White House lawn, was invited to work for a day along the National Park Service staff.
Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio to the White House on Sept. 15. Frank, who wrote a letter to Trump offering to mow the White House lawn, was invited to work for a day along the National Park Service staff.
Trump and Putin shake hands as they take part in a family photo at the APEC summit in Danang, Vietnam, on Nov. 10. 
Trump and Putin shake hands as they take part in a family photo at the APEC summit in Danang, Vietnam, on Nov. 10. 
Trump jokes with French President Emmanuel Macron about their handshakes at the start of the NATO summit at their new headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on May 25.
Trump jokes with French President Emmanuel Macron about their handshakes at the start of the NATO summit at their new headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on May 25.
Trump holds a mechanical tool as he attends a Made in America roundtable in the East Room of the White House on July 19.
Trump holds a mechanical tool as he attends a Made in America roundtable in the East Room of the White House on July 19.

Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today.

This article originally appeared on HuffPost.