A Democratic congressman has donated funds to a political group that was implicated in a criminal fund-raising operation for the jihad group, Hamas.
“Thank you Congressman James Moran for his generous personal donation to @CAIRNational at #CAIRturns20,” said a tweet from Linda Sarsour, the host at a Sept. 27 fund-raiser for the jihad-linked Council on American Islamic Relations.
Sarsour did not say how much money the Democrat donated.
Moran is a Democrat who represents the Alexandria district in northern Virginia. He’s not running for reelection in 2014.
The Islamic group also gave the Democrat a “Lifetime Achievement Award” during the fundraising event, which provided CAIR with at least $350,000.
Critics say the Democrat has repeatedly suggested that Jews are responsible for starting various wars in the Arab countries.
Moran accepted his CAIR award shortly after the head of the CAIR group, Nihad Awad, spoke at the podium.
“Thank you @NihadAwad for your work defending the rights of American Muslims. Congratulations!” said another tweet from Sarsour, whose relatives have reportedly been jailed by Israel.
In 2009, a judge confirmed the Justice Department’s decision to name CAIR, its founder and Awad as unindicted co-conspirators in a scheme to smuggle funds to Hamas, which is a jihadi affiliate of the Muslim Brotherhood.
“The purpose of creating the Holy Land Foundation was as a fundraising arm for Hamas,” U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis said at the end of the trial.
Five men in the smuggling ring were sentenced to jail in 2009, including two who were given 65-year sentences.
Subsequently, the FBI stopped formal meetings with Awad because of his ties to Hamas, a 2009 letter from a top FBI official revealed.
According to a July new report, Awad was monitored by U.S. foreign intelligence agencies from 2002 to at least 2008.
Separately, five CAIR employees or employees have been jailed or deported for terror-related offenses.
This year, Hamas restarted its war against Israel by launching rockets into Israel aimed and using tunnels to infiltrate jihadis into Israel.
Hamas managed to kill five Israeli civilians and 66 Israeli soldiers, but much of Gaza was wrecked as Israel hunted for Hamas’ jihadis who were attacking from civilian neighborhoods, in violation of international law.
Israeli officials say the war began when Hamas hired Arabs living near Jordan to kidnap and murder three Jewish youths. One of the youths was an American.
The Moran donation and award event highlighted the growing ties between the Democratic Party and CAIR, despite its past connection to Hamas.
Sarsour, for example, was lauded as a “Champion of Change” at President Barack Obama’s White House website. “Linda’s strengths are in the areas of community development, youth empowerment, community organizing, civic engagement and immigrants’ rights advocacy,” says the website.
In June 2012, a top White House official said administration officials have had 100s of meetings with CAIR. “There is hundreds of examples of departments and agencies that meet with CAIR on a range of issues,” George Selim told The Daily Caller, after being asked if his office refuses to meet with any Muslim groups. Selim is the White House’s director for community partnerships.
On Capital Hill, top Democrats have accepted large donations from Awad and his allies.
In May 2012, a covertly-taken photograph showed Democratic leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi standing near Awad at the top-dollar fundraiser. Roughly 30 people attended the fundraiser, according to the Investigative Project on Terrorism.
The cheapest tickets cost $5,000, and the most expensive were $30,800 per couple, according to the event invite from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which used the cash to fund Democratic candidates.
The hosts of the event were DCCC chairman Rep. Steve Israel and two Muslim Democratic representatives, Rep. Keith Ellison and Rep. Andre Carson.
In foreign policy, Obama has tried to work with Hamas’ parent organization, the Muslim Brotherhood. That policy has largely failed in Egypt, Libya and other countries.
