Lawmakers warn of CAIR threat

WASHINGTON – U.S. lawmakers called this morning for an investigation into a Muslim non-profit group suspected of infiltrating congressional offices with interns.

Rep. Sue Myrick, R-N.C., founder of the anti-terrorism caucus, says "Muslim Mafia, Inside the Secret Underworld That's Conspiring to Islamize America," a publication of WND Books to hit the shelves tomorrow, ties the allegations to an internal memo by CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

Myrick's office says "Muslim Mafia" co-author Paul Sperry, an investigative journalist and expert on terrorism, and his investigative team unearthed the January 2007 memo. The lawmaker has worked with Sperry to get educational information for her anti-terrorism caucus. She wrote the foreword to the book, which Sperry wrote with P. David Gaubatz, a counter-terrorism investigator and former Air Force special agent.

Myrick, along with Reps. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., John Shadegg, R-Ariz., and Paul Broun, R-Ga., are calling on the Department of Justice to share with Congress an executive summary of findings that led the FBI to officially sever ties with CAIR.

Myrick notes "Muslim Mafia" also alleges CAIR has connections to Hamas. She points out the Muslim group was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2008 Holy Land Foundation trial in Texas. The case resulted in guilty verdicts to 108 charges stemming from the funneling of more than $12 million to Hamas.

The lawmakers are also urging the Capitol's Sergeant at Arms to see whether or not CAIR infiltrated congressional offices, specifically the judiciary, intelligence and homeland security committees as referenced in the 2007 memo. Finally, Myrick and her colleagues are asking the Internal Revenue Service to investigate the legality of CAIR's non-profit status.

Myrick says she and other lawmakers have not verified Sperry's findings or contacted CAIR. She says she is urging federal investigators to do that work.

"About a year ago I learned that CAIR was trying to infiltrate the offices of members of Congress by placing interns in the offices, but I could not substantiate the rumors because I had no documentation to that effect," said Myrick at the press conference this morning.

"Now, however, author Paul Sperry, and his co-author's investigative team unearthed a 2007 memo written by CAIR which documents their stated intentions and goals to place interns in congressional offices supposedly for the purpose of influencing the policies of those members. Even more troubling, that the memo states that they are most interested in members who are serving on the judiciary, intelligence and homeland security committees," she continued.

"We are here saying we need an informed body politic," added Shadegg.

"We need informed Americans to understand the threats against this country and knowing the kinds of things that are in these books are very important," the Arizona congressman said. "The latest book provides stunning documentation of many of the things that are said in it with regard to the activities of CAIR. We urge our colleagues in Congress to be knowledgeable of those threats and about the things going on."

Broun said if an organization that "is connected to or supports terrorists is running influence operations or planting spies in key national security related congressional offices I think this needs to be made known."

CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper calls the book and today's press conference a "campaign to marginalize and disenfranchise American Muslims."

It's an "insult to every American Muslim and the many Muslims who work on the Hill. If it wasn't so ludicrous and insidious, it would be laughable," he added.

Hooper says the memo only proves that American Muslims are participating in government and peacefully petitioning their elected officials.

If you're a member of the media and would like to interview Paul Sperry, Dave Gaubatz or Chris Gaubatz, e-mail WND's marketing department or call Tim Bueler at (530) 401-3285.