Long before she married Albrecht Muth, The New York Times Magazine reports that Viola Drath’s career made her well-acquainted with high-profile individuals such as Norman Mailer and Henry Kissinger. Once they tied the knot, Viola proudly paraded her young husband around, and Muth, who wanted a career in politics, used Drath’s money and network in Washington, D.C., to climb the social ladder. Per The Guardian, the couple gained a reputation for throwing star-studded dinner parties at their Georgetown residence. Guests included Antonin Scalia and Dick Cheney, amongst others. In addition, acquaintances noted that Muth was unconventional. He told guests intricate stories and said he went on missions for the U.N. and German Intelligence.
Oxygen reports that Muth founded a group called the Eminent Persons Group in 1999. Like the dinner parties, Muth used Drath and this organization to lure notable people. Moreover, he saw it as a gateway to political prominence. According to The New York Times Magazine, George Soros helped fund this project, and the former Prime Minister of France, Michel Rocard, became involved. With Rocard in, Muth was able to entice other political heavyweights. Muth was obsessed with gaining power and acclaim. He explained to Drath’s grandson that individuals in a position of influence “fire at a different level of the human condition.”
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A few years later, the Eminent Persons Group began to crumble. Muth’s associates noted that they found his personality and wild stories questionable. In 2006, Muth physically assaulted Drath and left her.