A Manhattan federal prosecutor said Monday that politically connected lawyers are using inaccuracies to whitewash charges against a prominent Turkish businessman as they try to get Turkey’s president and U.S. officials to resolve the case diplomatically.
Southern District Assistant U.S. Attorney Dennis Lockard said Reza Zarrab is charged with a “serious national security offense,” despite efforts by former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey to minimize his involvement in a multiyear conspiracy to allow the government of Iran and other entities to access U.S. financial institutions.
