Hunter Biden’s lawyer accused of involvement in ‘brazen coverup’

By Josh Boswell For Dailymail.com

Published: 15:07 EDT, 22 September 2023 | Updated: 15:08 EDT, 22 September 2023

It is another example of Lowell getting embroiled in allegations of shady dealings with foreign nations – after emails published by DailyMail.com earlier this year showed the Justice Department scrutinized his links with suspected Chinese spies. Lowell did not respond to a request for comment. The top lawyer helped fight Bill Clinton ‘s impeachment in 1998 and represented Donald Trump ‘s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner. He is currently defending Hunter from federal prosecution for tax and gun crimes, as well as other potential federal charges over the First Son’s deals with China , Ukrainian oligarchs, Qatar, and other foreign nations or businesses.

But Lowell’s own alleged dealings with foreign nations are now coming under scrutiny in bombshell court documents. Last week’s legal filing involving Lowell came from a lawsuit by former top GOP money man and Donald Trump confidant Elliott Broidy, who sued the government of Qatar in 2018 for an alleged hacking and smear campaign against him in 2017 and 2018. Qatar has always strongly denied his hack-and-smear allegations. Lowell was representing a businessman allegedly working in the US for Qatar in 2018, and allegedly drafted documents in which a witness appears to have lied to help get Lowell’s client diplomatic immunity protection, Broidy’s lawsuit claims.

Lowell also allegedly offered the witness, American political consultant to Qatar Joey Allaham, over $1.5 million to defy a court order and conceal documents pertaining to the hacking plot, according to Broidy’s filing. Lowell, who works at firm Winston & Strawn, was representing alleged Qatari government fixer Jamal Benomar in 2018, according to court records. The lawyer ended up becoming deeply involved in Broidy’s legal battle – in part because Broidy accused Lowell’s client Benomar of being one of the architects of the alleged scheme to hack his emails. But Broidy’s legal team have now uncovered emails purportedly showing Lowell was also ‘representing Qatar itself, not just Benomar’.

They attached with their Friday court submission, copies of emails ‘reflecting Abbe Lowell’s extensive efforts on behalf of Qatar to arrange agreements […] even while Lowell’s nominal client, Benomar, had not yet been sued or subpoenaed.’ Broidy, a former Republican National Committee finance chair and a major fundraiser for the Trump campaign, sued Qatar in 2018 accusing them of hacking his emails. Leaks of Broidy’s emails embarrassed him, and were used in stories about his alleged scheme with Qatar’s rival Middle East nation, the United Arab Emirates, to get cash for access to then-President Trump. The ex-GOP money man has been on a legal vendetta since then, filing multiple lawsuits against the Qatari government and its agents.

In one 2018 California lawsuit against the Middle East government, Broidy issued a subpoena for Qatar consultant Allaham, as part of an attempt to gather information for his case. Broidy claims Qatar was reluctant for Allaham – who had worked closely with the Gulf government for years – to turn over all he knew to their opposition in the lawsuit. Emails discovered by Broidy’s team show that in June 2018, just hours after a judge ordered Allaham to comply with the subpoena, Lowell intervened with a shocking proposal lawyers thought could be akin to ‘bribery’. ‘Let me see if there is a pursuit we can do as a common interest,’ Lowell wrote to Allaham’s attorneys on June 6. ‘I think there is a settlement of a good idea to be had with us.’

The Arent Fox attorneys were skeptical. ‘OH MY FREAKING GOD – LOOK AT THIS,’ Allaham’s lawyer Craig Engle wrote in all-caps to his colleague Matthew Nolan. ‘I would not trust Abbe further than I could throw him,’ Nolan responded. ‘He has not been shooting straight with us on this.’ The next day Lowell sent them an email appearing to propose an up-front payment to Allaham, followed by another sum if he didn’t turn over the subpoenaed information about the alleged hacking scheme. Lowell told Engle he wanted to ‘pursue Qatar intervening to review all docs for privilege’ and to reach an ‘agreement’ with Allaham.

He offered one payment ‘within 10 days’, and another payment conditional on ‘the absence of any substantive discovery by the Broidy Plaintiffs of Allaham, reflecting some value to maintaining confidentiality consistent with his former principal’s sovereign prerogatives.’ Engle wrote to Allaham on June 7, translating Lowell’s offer into plain English. He described it as a ‘bonus’ paid only ‘if he does not turn over sovereign documents’ in response to Broidy’s subpoena. ‘If that got out [Allaham] could be accused of being bribed as a witness,’ the ArentFox lawyer warned, adding it was ‘a little sketchy’. ‘Also I think it’s strange they would pay him to essentially not turn over documents. That is out of our hands unless the court changes its mind. They can’t be saying we defy the court and withhold documents?’

Broidy claims that is exactly what Lowell and Qatar’s lawyers were plotting. In his 305-page filing last Friday, he claimed the deal was part of ‘a brazen coverup by U.S. lawyers who appear to have violated the rules of discovery, violated an Order of this Court and falsified verified discovery responses.’ Allaham accepted Lowell’s offer, and a month later on July 9, 2018, Engle emailed that Lowell had told him the agreement – including an unspecified dollar payment – was ‘Sitting in Qatar waiting for approval’. However, negotiations continued until December 2018, when Lowell added a shocking last-minute addition to the agreement, Broidy’s filings show. Lowell drafted a sworn affidavit for Allaham to sign with statements that Lowell apparently knew to be false, offering Allaham $1.15 million upfront and an extra $400,000 if he followed through with it all, documents filed by Broidy appear to show.

Emails show Lowell drafted an affidavit in December 2018 for Allaham to state, under penalty of perjury, that he ‘engaged in no commercial relationship’ with Lowell’s client Jamal Benomar, whom Broidy alleges served as an undeclared agent of Qatar. The draft affidavit was ‘to cover Jamal’s butt’, Engle wrote in a December 18, 2018 email published in one of Broidy’s filings. ‘Abbe and Mitch want an affidavit from you now, rather than later, for possible use in the litigation,’ he added in another email. At the time, Benomar was using a claim of diplomatic immunity through a job with the Moroccan embassy to wriggle out of Broidy’s lawsuit against him for allegedly acting as one of the architects of the scheme to hack the ex-GOP money man’s emails.

Diplomats with immunity can’t conduct business in the US – so Allaham’s proposed affidavit that he didn’t work with Benomar could have helped bolster his defense. But months earlier Allaham’s lawyers had sent Lowell a memo appearing to evidence their client’s commercial relationship with Benomar, emails in Broidy’s court filing show. The April 3, 2018 document was a summary of Allaham’s ‘contracts with Qatar and involving partnership with Jamal Benomar’, including that ‘Allaham is holding funds in escrow for Benomar in amount of $1,200,000.’ The document appears to contradict the sworn statement Lowell drafted for Allaham, according to the emails included in Broidy’s legal filing this month. The actions could be tantamount to Lowell encouraging someone to lie in a sworn statement – if the documents are as Broidy portrays them.

Broidy’s lawyers also filed with the DC district court a copy of Allaham’s settlement contract with Qatar, which offered to pay Allaham an initial payment of $1.15 million with up to $400,000 more to follow – as long as he signed the allegedly false affidavit. Broidy’s court filings claim this was just a legal strategy to allow Benomar to preserve his diplomatic immunity in a broader attempt by Qatari consultants to avoid handing over their communications as part of the legal discovery process. Broidy claims these same consultants were in on Qatar’s alleged hack and smear campaign – though the consultants deny it. ‘At Qatar’s behest, defendants, together with other parties, illegally used hacked materials to smear [Broidy],’ the GOP money man’s lawyers wrote in their August 25 filing. 

‘At the behest of this enormously wealthy foreign country which was paying the fees of all of those parties’ attorneys’ fees—the lawyers for defendants and nonparties and Qatar itself went to extraordinary lengths to help Qatar cover up that egregious misconduct.’ They claim the emails and contracts ‘evidence what appears to be an egregiously improper and longstanding effort by Qatar and its agents, including the defendants and nonparty subpoena recipients—and their respective counsel—to frustrate discovery in this and other actions brought by plaintiffs arising from Qatar’s hack-and-smear campaign’. Read the full story: 

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In the world of showbiz, there are often stories of young stars who have had a head start in their careers due to their famous parents. Maya Hawke, known for her role in “Stranger Things” alongside Millie Bobby Brown, is a prime example. However, Brown’s path to success was not paved with privilege. Despite her parents’ unwavering support, this multi-millionaire was not born into a life of luxury.

Born in the picturesque city of Marbella, Spain, Brown spent her first four years surrounded by her parents, grandparents, and two older siblings, Charlie and Paige. The family then relocated to England for four years before embarking on another adventure, this time settling in Florida to run a teeth whitening business. It was during this time that Brown’s father enrolled her in a weekend stage school, unknowingly setting the stage for her future.

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Los Angeles became the next destination for the Brown family, as they made the move to support Millie’s budding acting career. They sold most of their possessions to finance her auditions and provide her with every opportunity to succeed. However, the journey was not without its challenges. Despite a few minor roles, the family struggled to make ends meet, leading them to return to the UK and seek refuge with relatives. Brown candidly revealed in an interview with the Daily Mail, “I was devastated… I thought I was done.”

But fate had other plans for the determined young actress. Brown’s resilience and talent shone through during her audition for the hit series “Stranger Things.” Her real emotions, coupled with her remarkable acting skills, captivated the casting directors and secured her a place in the show’s ensemble cast. Within days, the Brown family found themselves back on American soil, this time in Atlanta, the city where “Stranger Things” is filmed. It was a turning point in their lives, marking the beginning of Brown’s meteoric rise to stardom.

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Since joining the cast of “Stranger Things,” Millie Bobby Brown has become a household name and an inspiration to aspiring actors worldwide. Her portrayal of the enigmatic Eleven has garnered critical acclaim, earning her multiple awards and nominations. The young star’s talent and dedication have propelled her career beyond the small screen, leading to roles in blockbuster films and high-profile endorsement deals.

Despite her immense success, Brown remains grounded and grateful for the unwavering support of her family. Her journey serves as a testament to the power of determination and hard work, proving that talent knows no boundaries. As she continues to evolve as an actress and philanthropist, Millie Bobby Brown is an embodiment of the adage that dreams can come true with perseverance and a strong support system.

Also read: Jesse Lee Soffer’s Directorial Debut On “One Chicago” Receives Rave Reviews From Co-Stars

In conclusion, Millie Bobby Brown’s rise to stardom is a tale of resilience, determination, and unwavering family support. From her humble beginnings in Marbella, Spain, to her breakthrough role in “Stranger Things,” Brown’s journey is an inspiration to young actors everywhere. Her success story serves as a reminder that talent and hard work can overcome any obstacle. As Millie Bobby Brown continues to captivate audiences with her performances, the world eagerly awaits the next chapter in her remarkable career.

What a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad week.  

Joe Biden’s embarrassing gaffes came thick and fast this week – after the president managed to fumble a series of high-profile domestic events on the world stage.

His litany of errors – including walking into flag poles, addressing people with the wrong names and rudely forgetting to shake foreign official’s hands – is coupled with the devastating blow that the 80-year-old president’s approval rating stands at 37 percent.

This is five percentage points lower than it was in February, and crucially, it is 10 points lower than his fierce 2020 Republican competitor, Donald Trump, in the latest embarrassing poll from the Washington Post. 

Meanwhile, there is a percussive thunder of calls for him to drop out of the running for the next election, from both the left and the right of the political landscape. 

Many are seriously questioning how Biden will be able to face a long presidential campaign for the Democrats if he struggles like he did the past week – and how he’ll handle the prospect of another four years in office. 

Biden’s gaffes with the Brazilian president: Walking off stage, running into a flag, no hand shake, and failed translator earpiece

On September 20, ailing Joe Biden seemed to produce gaffe after gaffe while on the UN stage alongside Brazil’s President, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Lula da Silva, 77, looked visibly irritated after the two leaders shared a stage to speak about their initiative to improve workers’ rights in each country – because Biden walked off without shaking his hand. 

Their diplomatic meeting got off to a labored start when Biden, 80, shuffled into a seven-foot Brazilian flag, leaving it teetering as he approached the podium. 

The president made a rambling speech about his ‘economic vision to rebuild our economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down’ while Lula watched on from his right flank. 

Meanwhile, during Lula’s speech, Biden fumbled with his headset, which he was using to hear a translated version. 

‘Can you hear me President Biden? This is an historical moment for Brazil, and for the US,’ Lula said at the start of his speech.

Biden appeared to leave Lula hanging at the end of the diplomatic presentation, awkwardly saluting the audience before shuffling off stage. The series of mistakes and ill gestures were watched on the world stage – as the high-level meeting brings world leaders together at U.N. headquarters in New York

Biden continued to look confused as he grappled with the headset while Lula went on with his speech. At one point, Biden dropped his earpiece and raised his eyebrows in frustration.

International Labor Organization Director General Gilbert Houngbo took to the podium after the two world leaders, and Biden stooped to slowly grab a folder from the ground.

Houngbo shook hands with Biden and Lula in turn at the close of his speech – but Biden appeared to leave Lula hanging, awkwardly saluting the audience before shuffling off stage.

He appeared to be torn between giving a thumbs-up or a salute, and made a sloppy gesture combining the two.

As Biden turned his back on the Brazilian president, Lula looked annoyed and made a swiping gesture with his arm. They departed awkwardly from opposite sides. 

The series of mistakes and ill gestures were watched on the world stage – as the high-level meeting brought world leaders together at U.N. headquarters in New York.

President calls the Congressional Hispanic Caucus the ‘Black Caucus’ 

On September 22, the president made yet another public gaffe when all eyes were on him during a keynote speech in Washington, DC. 

Joe Biden mistakenly praised the ‘Congressional Black Caucus’ during a speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. 

The 80-year-old made the blunder during a speech at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s 46th Annual Gala. 

He had celebrated Sister Norma Pimental, executive director of Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, for her gala award win moments before the mistake. 

Biden praised her for living the lessons based on the Gospel of Matthew before adding: ‘The Congressional Black Caucus embodies all those values.’

‘I know Sister Norma lives the lessons nuns taught me growing up,’ Biden said during the speech addressing the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

‘Lessons based on the Gospel of Matthew: feed the hungry, care for the sick, welcome strangers.’

‘They echo what my dad taught me, and I mean this sincerely, my dad used to say, ‘Everyone, everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and respect.’

The president added: ‘The Congressional Black Caucus embodies all those values,’ without correcting his mistake. 

President Joe Biden mistakenly praised the ‘ Congressional Black Caucus’ during a speech to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus

Biden repeats the same story about a white supremacist rally twice at the same event 

As well as making in-the-moment mistakes, Biden was also berated this week for repeating the same story twice at the same event in New York City.  

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was then forced to answer for Biden’s concerning, ailing behavior in front of journalists.

She said that President Joe Biden was ‘speaking from his heart’ when he repeated the same story twice at a Wednesday night fundraiser in New York City. 

Jean-Pierre was twice asked Friday about Biden’s flub – said in a room without cameras rolling but with several journalists present due to rules about covering 2024 finance events. 

A pool report from the event, held at food security expert Amy Goldman Fowler’s home, noted that Biden talked about how the white supremacist rally – and former President Donald Trump’s reaction to it – in Charlottesville in August 2017 inspired him to run for the White House in the 2020 cycle. 

‘A few minutes later, he told the story again, nearly word for word,’ the pool report said. 

President Joe Biden speaks at a gun safety event on Friday. On Wednesday he repeated the same story twice at a fundraiser in New York City where cameras were not present in the room – though was attended by a small pool of journalists covering him 

NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell asked Friday, ‘Is it any concern that he would fully retell a story in the same space at the same event?’ as polls show that a super-majority of Americans are worried that Biden  wouldn’t be effective through a second term.

‘Sometimes I re-speak as well from here and retell a story,’ Jean-Pierre said with a laugh.  

‘But look, I think it’s important to note that the president was speaking, as you said at a fundraiser and he was speaking from his heart,’ she continued. ‘He was speaking about why he’s decided to do this.’

‘And you hear the president talk about this, it’s always incredibly emotional for him. Cause he didn’t have to. He went through an incredibly difficult time when he was deciding to jump into the race,’ she added. 

Joe Biden butchered his speech at the Congressional Black Caucus on Saturday night

Biden refers to rapper LL Cool J as ‘LL Jay Cool J’    

Adding to the long list of problematic things the President did this week, Joe Biden referred to legendary rapper LL Cool J as a ‘boy’ after mispronouncing his name at the Congressional Black Caucus.

On Saturday night, LL Cool J and MC Lyte received Phoenix Awards for their musical contributions at the annual ceremony.

While on stage, Biden said: ‘Two of the great artists of our time representing ground-breaking legacy of hip hop in America, LL Jay Cool J, uhhh…’ – as the audience laughed at his latest gaffe over the rapper’s name.

Biden then added: ‘By the way that boy – that man’s got biceps bigger than my thighs.’

The footage of his speech was quickly re-posted by right-wing RNC Research on social media, where commentators swiftly pointed out that referring to African Americans as ‘boy’ is widely considered a derogative term. 

It was yet another butchered speech for the most powerful man in the world.  

The 80-year-old president referred to legendary rapper LL Cool J (pictured) as a ‘boy’ after mispronouncing his name

Biden claims he’s been to ‘every mass shooting’ – which he has not  

Joe Biden also – erroneously – claimed to have been to ‘every mass shooting’ this week. 

The bizarre remark came days after he falsely claimed to have visited Ground Zero the day after 9/11, and have left many demanding to know whether he is lying or forgetting.

Speaking alongside vice-president Kamala Harris in the White House Rose Garden, he said his administration had been ‘working relentlessly to do something’.

‘After every mass shooting, we hear a simple message, the same message heard all over the country, and I’ve been to every mass shooting,’ he told his audience.

There have more than 500 mass shootings in the US this year and critics on social media were scathing in their response to the latest tall story.

‘Suspicious, if true,’ tweeted former US diplomat Alberto Fernandez.

‘Every weekend should be therefore spent in Chicago instead of Delaware,’ added Fox News contributor Joe Concha.

The president claimed to have ‘been to every mass shooting’ as he launched a gun control initiative on Friday alongside Maxwell Frost, 26, the youngest member of Congress 

The news comes as a new poll from the Washington Post has Biden trailing former president Trump in a theoretical 2024 match. The two men are the frontrunners for their party’s nomination for president.  

But questions are growing louder on whether Biden should run as Democrats such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom appear to be positioning themselves to take the mantle. 

According to the WaPo polling this weekend, Biden’s approval rating stands at about 37 percent, similar to where it was in May, but five percentage points lower than it was in February.

Biden’s disapproval figure is 56 percent. The poll also asked whether, in retrospect, voters approve or disapprove of the job Trump did while in office.

Forty-eight percent say they approve and 49 percent say they disapprove. When he left office in January of 2021, Trump’s approval was closer to 38 percent.

The poll’s matchup of the two likely candidates showed Trump polling ahead of Biden by 10 percentage points – 52 to 42 – among registered voters.

The current resident of the Oval Office is also ailing in his policy record. Biden has spent many of the last several weeks touting his signature economic plan, ‘Bidenomics.’ But his earned approval rating on his handling of the economy has plummeted to 30 percent – the lowest of his presidency.

Some 75 percent of Americans believe the economy is ‘not so good,’ or ‘poor,’ according to the poll. A whopping 87 percent of Americans say that gas and energy prices are ‘not so good’ or ‘poor.’ And 91 percent of people say the same about food prices.

A plurality of respondents (44 percent) said they are not as well of financially as before Biden took office, while 39 percent said they are in about the same position, and 15 percent said they are better off.