FOREIGN POLICY/JUSTICE DEPARTMENT/MALAYSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “President Donald Trump will host Malaysia’s premier this week, in a visit that shows how hard his administration is working to court Asian allies to pressure North Korea over its nuclear-weapons program.
Tuesday’s [9-12-17] visit by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak comes as a U.S. Justice Department investigation into the looting of a Malaysian economic-development fund threatens to ensnare much of the country’s ruling elite, including Mr. Najib.
While officials say Malaysia’s burgeoning economy and trade ties throughout Asia, including North Korea, could make it an important partner in taming Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions, the breadth of the corruption case makes cooperation awkward.
The Justice Department has alleged that billions of dollars were misappropriated from the fund, 1Malaysia Development Bhd., or 1MDB. Justice Department lawyers are suing to seize more than $1.6 billion in allegedly stolen assets that were used to buy items ranging from luxury real estate in Manhattan and Beverly Hills to jewelry and a private jet…
The White House declined interview requests last week on the visit, which is expected to include a photo session of the two leaders. People familiar with the case also said the meeting could complicate any future criminal case stemming from the allegations, if defendants in subsequent cases could use any photos of Mr. Najib meeting with Mr. Trump or other senior White House officials in their defense.”
-Alan Cullison, Aruna Viswanatha, and Ben Otto, “Trump to Meet Malaysian Leader as He Works to Shore Up Asian Ties,” The Wall Street Journal online, Sept. 10, 2017 10:14pm