Former US envoy to Pakistan granted parole for ethics violations

Olson, who served as US envoy to Pakistan from 2012 to 2015, pleaded guilty in June last year to making a false statement and violating laws governing lobbying for a foreign government.

Olson was accused of helping the Qatari government influence American policymakers shortly after retiring from the State Department in 2016.

“U.S. law prohibits senior officials, such as the defendant, from representing a foreign government before any federal agency or assisting or advising a foreign entity with the intent to influence the U.S. government for one year after leaving office,” the US attorney said. the Washington Office said in a statement.

“The defendant took numerous steps to conceal these illegal activities, including deleting incriminating emails and lying to the FBI during a recorded interview,” he said.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Olson, while serving as a U.S. envoy to Pakistan, also received favors and benefits from a Pakistani-American businessman identified in court documents only as “Person 1.”

They included $25,000 paid to Olson’s then-girlfriend to help pay her tuition at Columbia University in New York and $18,000 in first-class travel for the ambassador to attend a job interview in London.

“A significant favor was that the defendant agreed to lobby members of Congress on behalf of Person 1 regarding arms sales to Pakistan and Middle Eastern countries that Person 1 was trying to negotiate,” the U.S. Attorney’s office said. of the United States.

According to The Washington Post, “Person 1” is Imaad Zuberi, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2021 for making illegal campaign contributions and other crimes.

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