Brookings places retired general on leave amid FBI investigation
The prestigious Brookings Institution placed its president, retired four-star Marine Gen. John Allen, on administrative leave Wednesday amid a federal investigation into his role in an illegal lobbying campaign on behalf of the wealthy Persian Gulf nation of Qatar.
Brookings’ announcement came a day after The Associated Press reported on new court filings that show the FBI recently seized Gen. Allen’s electronic data as part of the probe and detailed his behind-the scenes efforts to help Qatar influence U.S. policy in 2017 when a diplomatic crisis erupted between the gas-rich monarchy and its neighbors.
Gen. Allen, who led U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan before being tapped to lead Brookings in 2017, has not been charged with any crimes. His spokesman, Beau Phillips, said that Gen. Allen had done nothing improper or unlawful.
“Through decades of public service in combat and diplomacy, General Allen has earned an unmatched, sterling reputation for honor and integrity,” Mr. Phillips said. “We look forward to correcting the falsehoods about General Allen that have been improperly publicized in this matter.”
Brookings told staffers in an email Wednesday that the institute is not under investigation and that the think tank’s executive vice president, Ted Gayer, will serve as acting president.
“We have every confidence in the Brookings team’s ability to remain focused on delivering quality, independence, and impact,” the email said.
Brookings pays Gen. Allen more than $1 million a year, according to its most recently available tax records. The email to staff did not say whether Gen. Allen would continue to be paid while on leave.
The federal investigation involving Gen. Allen has already ensnared Richard G. Olson, a former ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan who pleaded guilty to federal charges last week, and Imaad Zuberi, a prolific political donor now serving a 12-year prison sentence on corruption charges. Several members of Congress have also been interviewed.
An FBI agent said in an affidavit in support of a search warrant there was “substantial evidence” that Gen. Allen had knowingly broken a foreign lobbying law, and had made false statements and withheld “incriminating” documents.
Gen. Allen’s behind-thescenes work involved traveling to Qatar and meeting with the country’s top officials to offer them advice on how to influence U.S. policy, as well as promoting Qatar’s point of view to top White House officials and Congress, according to the FBI affidavit.
The Qatar Embassy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Brookings is one of the most influential think thanks in the U.S. and has long had strong ties to Qatar. In 2007, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs agreed to fund a Brookings-backed offshoot in Qatar called the Brookings Doha Center.
As a nonprofit, Brookings does not have to disclose its donations but it voluntarily discloses some data. Its annual reports show Qatar giving at least $2 million a year from 2016 to 2021.
Brookings said that Gen. Allen decided in 2019 to stop taking donations from Qatar and to close the Brookings Doha Center.
“Brookings has strong policies in place to prohibit donors from directing research activities,” said the email to staffers Wednesday.