Investigative report examines whether Egypt made $10 million Trump campaign contribution for political influence

An investigation by The Washington Post has uncovered new details about a federal probe initiated in 2016 that investigated a possible $10 million cash payment from Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to Donald Trump’s presidential campaign.

This probe was connected to a $9,998,000 withdrawal from a Cairo bank just before Trump’s inauguration in 2017. According to the Post, then-Attorney General William Barr allegedly intervened, hindering the investigation before sufficient evidence could be gathered. The case, which had the potential to result in campaign finance violation charges, expired in 2022 due to the statute of limitations.

The money, consisting of $100 bills and weighing nearly 200 pounds, required four men to transport it. The withdrawal coincided with CIA intelligence indicating that el-Sisi planned to donate $10 million to Trump’s campaign, which was reportedly low on funds at the time.

This transaction occurred shortly after Trump himself injected $10 million into his campaign, despite his earlier reluctance to use personal funds. The report suggests that the payment was an attempt by el-Sisi to gain favor with the U.S. candidate, especially as the Obama administration had been critical of el-Sisi’s authoritarian rule.

Investigators highlighted Trump’s conduct during key meetings with el-Sisi, including calling him a “fantastic guy” and pledging U.S. loyalty to Egypt.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team explored the issue, suspecting a financial link, but ultimately lacked definitive proof. The investigation, passed through various Justice Department officials, was closed in 2020 due to insufficient evidence. The Trump campaign has labeled the story as “textbook fake news.”