President of Mongolia
Over his career, Thornton has built relationships with leaders of countries in which his current and former companies have conducted business. Some of these relationships include South African President, Nelson Mandela, US President, Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Félix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, John Magufuli, president of Tanzania, Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister of Australia and former president of Mongolia Nambaryn Enkhbayar. Thornton developed a friendship with Enkhbayar, who was arrested in April 2012 by Mongolia’s anti-corruption commission after being accused of misuse of state property while in office. Thornton played a key role in a campaign led by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to gain international support for Enkhbayar, who had been convicted by a government court in August 2012. Senator Feinstein took the position that due process of law had not been followed in Enkhbayar's trial. Enkhbayar was released and pardoned by the new President of Mongolia