Politics
Huma Abedin, the Muslim aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the wife of former Representative Anthony Weiner, has been accused of having ties to the Muslim Brotherhood and thus potentially being part of a Muslim conspiracy to infiltrate the United States government. The charge was made by Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann, who based her claim on the organizational connections of three members of Abedin’s immediate family.
In a letter submitted to the Department of State, Bachman stated that Abedin, who serves as Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, “has three family members — her late father, her mother and her brother — connected to Muslim Brotherhood operatives and/or organizations.” Delving further into the charges in a separate letter to Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, who is the first Muslim member of Congress, Bachmann expressed her bewilderment over how Abedin was able to obtain security clearance and not get rejected for her post under “foreign influence grounds.”
Bachmann’s concern about Abedin’s alleged connection to the Muslim Brotherhood is highlighted by a belief held by the Congresswoman and several Republican colleagues that the terrorist-supporting organization is secretly attempting to penetrate the American government. Abedin’s “position affords her routine access to the Secretary and to policy-making,” wrote Bachmann, Arizona Rep. Trent Franks, Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, Rep. Thomas Rooney of Florida and Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia in their letter to the State Department requesting an investigation.
The group of Representatives also alleged that the Obama administration has taken a number of recent actions that are “enormously favorable” to the Muslim Brotherhood, raising “serious safety concerns” that demand “urgent attention.” The State Department did not respond to a request for comment.
A month ago, Bachmann tried to obtain the intervention of inspector generals from the State, Homeland Security, Defense and Justice Departments. “I am asking you to investigate policies and activities that appear to be the result of influence operations conducted by individuals and organizations associated with the Muslim Brotherhood,” she wrote. Separately, in a radio interview last month, Bachmann charged that the Muslim Brotherhood has established a strong influence within the United States. “It appears that there has been deep penetration in the halls of our United States government by the Muslim Brotherhood,” she declared. “It appears that there are individuals who are associated with the Muslim Brotherhood who have positions, very sensitive positions, in our Department of Justice, our Department of Homeland Security, potentially even in the National Intelligence Agency.”
The Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammad Mursi was recently elected as President of Egypt.
Bachmann’s accusation generated a backlash from several Republican leaders, who felt her comments were inappropriate. “These allegations about Huma and the report from which they are drawn are nothing less than an unwarranted and unfounded attack on an honorable woman, a dedicated American and a loyal public servant,” Senator John McCain said in a speech on the Senate floor. Referring to Bachmann’s letter to the State Department, McCain quoted its allegation that three members of Abedin’s family are connected to the Muslim Brotherhood. “Never mind that one of those individuals, Huma’s father, passed away two decades ago,” the Senator noted. “The letter and the report offer not one instance of an action, a decision or a public position that Huma has taken while at the State Department that would lend credence to the charge that she is promoting anti-American activities within our government.” McCain concluded, “These attacks on Huma have no logic, no basis and no merit. And they need to stop now.”
House Speaker John Boehner stated that while he is not personally acquainted with Abedin, “from everything I do know of her, she has a sterling character, and I think accusations like this being thrown around are pretty dangerous.”
Rep. Ellison sent Bachmann a letter wherein he asked that she provide him with “a full accounting of the sources you used to make the serious allegations against the individuals and organizations in your letters.” He also warned her that she had to be able to present “credible, substantial evidence” for her claims.
Responding to Ellison, Bachmann defended her concerns over possible Muslim infiltration into the U.S. government by citing the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to which President George W. Bush created a “special envoy” position in 2008, and advocacy groups such as the Islamic Society of North America and the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
Regarding Abedin’s possibly compromised status, Bachmann focused on the Clinton aide’s late father, Professor Syed Z. Abedin, and a 2002 Brigham Young University Law Review article about his career.
Bachmann noted a passage stating that Abedin founded an organization that received the “quiet but active support” of the former director of the Muslim World League, an international NGO that had a relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe from the 1970s through the 1990s.
In a letter submitted to the Department of State, Bachman stated that Abedin, who serves as Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, “has three family members — her late father, her mother and her brother — connected to Muslim Brotherhood operatives and/or organizations.” Delving further into the charges in a separate letter to Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, who is the first Muslim member of Congress, Bachmann expressed her bewilderment over how Abedin was able to obtain security clearance and not get rejected for her post under “foreign influence grounds.”
Bachmann’s concern about Abedin’s alleged connection to the Muslim Brotherhood is highlighted by a belief held by the Congresswoman and several Republican colleagues that the terrorist-supporting organization is secretly attempting to penetrate the American government. Abedin’s “position affords her routine access to the Secretary and to policy-making,” wrote Bachmann, Arizona Rep. Trent Franks, Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, Rep. Thomas Rooney of Florida and Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Georgia in their letter to the State Department requesting an investigation.
The group of Representatives also alleged that the Obama administration has taken a number of recent actions that are “enormously favorable” to the Muslim Brotherhood, raising “serious safety concerns” that demand “urgent attention.” The State Department did not respond to a request for comment.
A month ago, Bachmann tried to obtain the intervention of inspector generals from the State, Homeland Security, Defense and Justice Departments. “I am asking you to investigate policies and activities that appear to be the result of influence operations conducted by individuals and organizations associated with the Muslim Brotherhood,” she wrote. Separately, in a radio interview last month, Bachmann charged that the Muslim Brotherhood has established a strong influence within the United States. “It appears that there has been deep penetration in the halls of our United States government by the Muslim Brotherhood,” she declared. “It appears that there are individuals who are associated with the Muslim Brotherhood who have positions, very sensitive positions, in our Department of Justice, our Department of Homeland Security, potentially even in the National Intelligence Agency.”
The Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohammad Mursi was recently elected as President of Egypt.
Bachmann’s accusation generated a backlash from several Republican leaders, who felt her comments were inappropriate. “These allegations about Huma and the report from which they are drawn are nothing less than an unwarranted and unfounded attack on an honorable woman, a dedicated American and a loyal public servant,” Senator John McCain said in a speech on the Senate floor. Referring to Bachmann’s letter to the State Department, McCain quoted its allegation that three members of Abedin’s family are connected to the Muslim Brotherhood. “Never mind that one of those individuals, Huma’s father, passed away two decades ago,” the Senator noted. “The letter and the report offer not one instance of an action, a decision or a public position that Huma has taken while at the State Department that would lend credence to the charge that she is promoting anti-American activities within our government.” McCain concluded, “These attacks on Huma have no logic, no basis and no merit. And they need to stop now.”
House Speaker John Boehner stated that while he is not personally acquainted with Abedin, “from everything I do know of her, she has a sterling character, and I think accusations like this being thrown around are pretty dangerous.”
Rep. Ellison sent Bachmann a letter wherein he asked that she provide him with “a full accounting of the sources you used to make the serious allegations against the individuals and organizations in your letters.” He also warned her that she had to be able to present “credible, substantial evidence” for her claims.
Responding to Ellison, Bachmann defended her concerns over possible Muslim infiltration into the U.S. government by citing the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to which President George W. Bush created a “special envoy” position in 2008, and advocacy groups such as the Islamic Society of North America and the Muslim Public Affairs Council.
Regarding Abedin’s possibly compromised status, Bachmann focused on the Clinton aide’s late father, Professor Syed Z. Abedin, and a 2002 Brigham Young University Law Review article about his career.
Bachmann noted a passage stating that Abedin founded an organization that received the “quiet but active support” of the former director of the Muslim World League, an international NGO that had a relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood in Europe from the 1970s through the 1990s.
