A TOP Republican donor convicted of illicitly lobbying for fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, the mastermind behind the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, was one of 143 pardoned by Donald Trump, reports South China Morning Post.

This was revealed a list released on the early hours of Trump’s last day in office.

In granting reprieve to Broidy, the Trump administration cited his “numerous philanthropic efforts, including on behalf of law enforcement, the military and veteran programmes and the Jewish community”.

The portal reported that among 21 high-profile individuals who supported his clemency were former US ambassador to China Terry Branstad and current House Republicans Devin Nunes, Ken Calvert and Jack Bergman.

Elliott Brody had last year pleaded guilty to conspiring to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act as part of a covert campaign to lobby on behalf of Low.

As part of a plea deal, the 63-year-old admitted to accepting US$9 million (RM36.4 million) from Low to persuade the Trump administration to drop the US probe into the scandal.

He also agreed to forfeit US$6.6 million in his plea deal with the US government.

Broidy held finance posts in Trump’s 2016 campaign and on his inaugural committee.

Investigations into the 1MDB scandal eventually led former prime minister Najib Razak being charged in court. He was last year convicted in relation to the RM42 million funds in SRC International Bhd, and was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210 million for seven charges.

Najib is appealing the verdict.

The Wall Street Journal first highlighted Broidy’s links to the 1MDB scandal in 2018. Based on emails it obtained, the venture capitalist and and his wife, Robin Rosenzweig, discussed setting up a consulting contract with Low.

One draft stated a proposal for a US$75 million fee if the US Department of Justice dropped its 1MDB investigations. – January 20, 2021.