George Cottrell Stays at Farage's Side Despite 2017 Fraud Conviction and £500,000 Donation Probe
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 17
George Cottrell Stays at Farage's Side Despite 2017 Fraud Conviction and £500,000 Donation Probe
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 17
Summary
George Cottrell, 32, remains one of Nigel Farage’s closest advisers even after pleading guilty to wire fraud in the US and serving an eight-month prison sentence.
Recent scrutiny intensified after The Sunday Times reported Cottrell gave Farage undisclosed gifts and support before the 2024 general election, putting their long relationship under fresh focus.
The relationship dates back at least to 2016, when Cottrell was arrested in Chicago after a Las Vegas money-laundering sting involving undercover IRS agents; prosecutors said he offered to clean $20,000 and later sought $80,000 in Bitcoin.
Police are separately investigating the legality of two £250,000 donations to Reform U.K. from Cottrell’s mother, Fiona, and said last month that two people had been questioned, with no arrests made.