A $900,000 inaugural donor obstructed the donation probe; Trump later commuted his sentence
Imaad Zuberi routed $900,000 through his company to Trump's inaugural committee, then obstructed the federal investigation into that donation. His broader convictions covered illegal conduit contributions, unregistered foreign-agent work, tax evasion, and obstruction. Trump commuted his prison sentence in 2025 without erasing the convictions.
Entities and roles
- Imaad Zuberidonor, convicted defendant, and commutation recipient
- Donald J. Trumpinauguration honoree and president granting commutation
- 58th Presidential Inaugural Committeerecipient of the donation
Claims and evidence
- factdocumented
Trump commuted Zuberi's prison sentence on May 28, 2025 while leaving the conviction and financial penalties intact; the Ninth Circuit later affirmed the convictions while ordering only a limited sentencing remand.
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit: United States v. Zuberi, memorandum dispositionDisposition and conclusion
- U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney: Commutation warrant for Imaad ZuberiCommutation warrant dated May 28, 2025
- factconvicted
Zuberi pleaded guilty to FARA, illegal campaign-contribution, tax-evasion, and obstruction offenses and was sentenced in 2021 to 12 years in prison, a $1.75 million fine, and $15.7 million in restitution.
- factconvicted
Zuberi made a $900,000 donation through his company to Trump's presidential inaugural committee in late 2016; DOJ said some money came from other people and his later backdated refund of $50,000 formed part of the obstruction case.
- U.S. Department of Justice, Central District of California: Political Donor Sentenced to 12 Years in Prison for Lobbying and Campaign Contribution Crimes, Tax Evasion, Obstruction of JusticeParagraphs describing the $900,000 donation and backdated $50,000 refund
Measurements
Donation routed to Trump inaugural committee$900,000 USD - Basis
- Observed
- Population
- The single late-2016 donation DOJ described as made by Zuberi through his company to the presidential inaugural committee
- Period
- 2016-11-09 to 2016-12-31
- Method
- Amount stated in DOJ's sentencing release and obstruction-case description.
- Uncertainty
- DOJ stated that some of the $900,000 came from other people, including a $50,000 check; this observation does not classify the full sum as foreign-government money.