Former United States Ambassador to Pakistan, Richard Olson, has been handed a 3-year prison sentence for ethics violations, as reported in the American media. In June of the previous year, Olson confessed to exploiting his position for personal gain and providing false statements during investigations. This led to his charges for breaching ethics laws, resulting in a 3-year prison term and a $93,400 fine.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, while serving as the ambassador to Pakistan, Richard Olson received favors from a Pakistani-American businessman. Court documents detail how Olson encouraged a Pakistani-American citizen to provide his girlfriend with $25,000 to cover her Columbia University fees and fund first-class air travel to London for a job associated with the former ambassador. An additional $18,000 was also transferred.
Another Pakistani-American individual received a 12-year prison sentence for making illegal campaign donations during the 2021 election.
Media reports indicate that Richard Olson assisted the Qatari government in influencing U.S. policy-makers and took measures to conceal his unlawful activities. The 63-year-old former U.S. diplomat retired from the U.S. State Department in 2016, having served as the U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan from 2012 to 2015.
