BUDAPEST (Reuters) – The U.S. Treasury said on Tuesday it had imposed sanctions on a senior Hungarian government official, Antal Rogan, for suspected involvement in corruption in Hungary.
Rogan is a close aide of of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and runs his cabinet office. He could not immediately be reached for comment. A Hungarian government spokesman did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment.
The U.S. Treasury accused Rogan of using his role to secure financial benefits for himself and his political allies.
“The United States will not hesitate to hold accountable individuals, like Rogan, who use the power of their office to illicitly enrich themselves and their cronies at the expense of their country and their fellow citizens,” Acting Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Bradley T. Smith said in a statement.
Rogan has been close to Orban for decades, running his government’s media machine as well as his election campaigns. He currently also oversees the secret services of Hungary, a NATO ally.
Relations between Hungary and the United States have become increasingly tense during the presidency of Joe Biden, due in part to Budapest’s warm ties with Moscow despite the war in Ukraine.
Orban has been one of President-elect Donald Trump’s most vocal supporters in Europe. Trump will be inaugurated as U.S. president on Jan. 20.
(Reporting by Anita Komuves, Kristina Than, writing by Alan Charlish; Editing by Alison Williams and Gareth Jones)
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