Qatar hires ex-US attorney general to rebut terrorism charges

The government of Qatar has hired former US attorney general John Ashcroft to help it challenge accusations from its Arab neighbors and U.S. President Donald Trump that it supports terrorism and extremists.

Qatar will pay Ashcroft Law Firm $2.5 million for the 90-day period that the country is seeking to showcase is efforts towards fighting terrorism and comply with financial regulations, according to a Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) filing with the US Justice Department.

“Client (Qatar) has retained the Firm for the broad purpose of providing the Client with comprehensive strategic advice, legal counsel, support, and representation related to confirming, educating, assessing and reporting on the Client’s efforts to combat global terrorism and its support of and compliance with international financial regulations, including compliance with United States Treasury rules and regulations,” a letter by Ashcroft firm partner Michael Sullivan included in the filing stated.

Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt had last week snapped diplomatic and trade relations with Qatar, accusing the country of supporting terrorism.

Since then a number of other countries have also joined in the embargo against Qatar.

Trump has also welcomed the Gulf’s decision to cut ties with Doha.

“The nation of Qatar has historically been a funder of terrorism, at a very high level,” Trump has said in a televised statement. “The time had come to call on Qatar to end its funding” of terrorism.