Liz Truss' chief of staff questioned by FBI in election bribe probe

Liz Truss' chief of staff was interviewed by the FBI as part of an investigation into an alleged conspiracy to bribe an American politician and influence an election.

Mark Fullbrook, the Prime Minister's closest adviser, was interviewed as a witness in a US Department of Justice (DoJ) and FBI investigation into the case.< /p>

In April, the FBI approached the UK's National Crime Agency and the Metropolitan Police to help secure Mr Fullbrook's attendance for a formal interview, The Sunday Times first reported.

US investigators are looking into allegations that a London Puerto Rico-based businessman tried to bribe the governor of Puerto Rico, a United States territory.

Julio Martin Herrera Velutini, a British Conservative Party donor and owner of Puerto Rican bank Bancredito, is accused of bribing then-Governor Wanda Vazquez Garced.

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Federal prosecutors say Mr. Herrera wanted Ms. Vazquez, a Trump-supporting Republican who was investigating his bank, to replace them with someone of his choosing.

Commission British election records show that a company founded by Mr Herrera also donated £650,604 to the Conservative Party between December 2019 and June 2022.

Mr. Fullbrook, who orchestrated Ms Truss's leadership campaign, was questioned by US authorities because of his work for and role with CT Group, an Australian-British lobbying firm founded by Lynton Crosby.

Court records in the United States allege that the alleged bribe was paid through CT Group. Mr. Fullbrook was employed as the company's global project manager, and prosecutors say he traveled to Puerto Rico to meet with Vazquez Garced.

Prosecutors allegedly read hundreds of sensitive emails from Mr. Fullbrook regarding his work in the Puerto Rican capital, San Juan.

Mr. Fullbrook strongly denies any wrongdoing. A representative said: 'Our client was not involved in the alleged illegal conduct and is not being investigated in relation to it.

“He is only a witness to it, and has cooperated and is cooperating fully with the relevant authorities in the United States. Any allegation that he is unfit for the position of chief of staff is totally false."

The representative pointed out that the Prime Minister's adviser "had absolutely no knowledge of bribes or corruption when the CT Group contracted to provide services to Julio Herrera Velutini."

They also said that Mr. Fullbrook had not performed any work for Ms. Vazquez Garced, the politician who was allegedly bribed.

Last month, the DoJ charged Ms. Vazquez and Mr. Herrera with crimes that could each carry up to 20 years in prison. Both deny any wrongdoing.

Commenting on the investigation, Deputy Attorney General Kenneth A Polite Jr said, "The alleged system of corruption has reached the highest levels of the Puerto Rican government, threatening public confidence in our electoral processes and institutions of governance. governance.

“The Department of Justice is committed to holding accountable those who mistakenly believe that there is one rule of law for the powerful and another for the weak. No one is above the rule of law."

US Attorney W Stephen Muldrow said, "The criminal actions of the defendants in this case strike a blow to the heart of our democracy and further erode the trust of our citizens in their institutions of governance.

“Our determination to bring to justice those entrusted with service with integrity by the public and who violate that trust remains unwavering. Equally firm is our determination to prosecute those who seek to use their wealth and power to enrich themselves at the expense of honest government. I salute the dedication and hard work of the law enforcement personnel and prosecutors in this case, and those willing to come forward and cooperate. »

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