Bangladesh, July 9 -- Sergio Gor, a once obscure figure in Washington political circles, has emerged as one of the most influential players in Donald Trumps political machinery. Yet for all his influence, Gors origins have long remained shrouded in mystery. Recent investigative reporting by the Times of Malta and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) has pulled back the curtain, revealing that the powerful Trump adviser was born not in Malta, as widely assumed, but in Tashkent, Uzbekistan – then a republic within the Soviet Union.

Gor, who now oversees White House appointments under Trumps renewed administration, plays a pivotal role in selecting and vetting thousands of federal officials. With this kind of r...