Barrack, a former private equity fund executive who prosecutors say acted as an agent for the United Arab Emirates, asked U.S. District Judge Brian Cogan last week to exclude evidence of his wealth, of his spending and lifestyle, arguing that prosecutors were seeking to appeal to jurors’ “class bias” against wealthy people.
In a written order, the Brooklyn judge said “generic photographs of three lavish properties provide no useful context,” and federal prosecutors did not need to show a photo of Barrack’s plane.
“The government has gone too far here and shouldn’t do it again,” Cogan wrote. “There is little or no probative value to admit these photographs and a high potential for unfair harm.”
A spokesperson for the Brooklyn U.S. Attorney’s Office, which is prosecuting the case, declined to comment.
Prosecutors charged Barrack, 75, with using his influence between 2016 and 2018 to advance UAE foreign policy goals without notifying the U.S. Attorney General of his involvement as required by law.
Barrack, who supported Trump’s 2016 White House run and headed his nominating committee, has pleaded not guilty and faces trial on September 19.
In his Tuesday order, Mr. Cogan also rejected a motion by Mr. Barrack to exclude the testimony of government witnesses who specialize in foreign intelligence operations and Middle East politics.
The judge also denied Barrack’s motion to exclude evidence about how Rashid Al Malik, an alleged middleman between Barrack and UAE officials, left the United States in 2018.
Prosecutors said they did not intend to argue that his departure was evidence of his or Barrack’s guilt.