Diamonds and diplomacy: How ex-US Ambassador Richard Olson fell from grace - BBC News

High-flying former ambassador brought down by ethics scandals and a conviction for illegal lobbying.

1 day agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Former Ambassador Olson's conviction has rocked the typically rule-following world of diplomacyBy Holly Honderichin WashingtonIn 2012, when Richard Olson reported to Islamabad to begin his posting as US ambassador to Pakistan, the veteran diplomat was faced with an icy welcome from his host country, angered by the United States' military raid a year earlier to kill Osama Bin Laden.

On the surface, Ambassador Olson handled the assignment with skill - the hard-earned product of his 30-plus year career in the foreign service.

When he retired four years later, in 2016, then-Secretary of State John Kerry gushed that Olson, "quite simply one of our most distinguished diplomats", had left a "lasting impact" on US diplomacy.

But behind the scenes, Olson's arrival in Islamabad marked the beginning of a scandal-filled few years, US court documents have shown - extramarital affairs, unreported gifts of diamond jewellery, and accusations of lies and illegal lobbying.

Last year, Olson admitted to lying in ethics paperwork and violating so-called "revolving door" laws by lobbying for Qatar within one year of retiring from federal service. On Friday, he was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $93,400.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-66790328?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=KARANGA

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