Andrew McCarthy: Debbie Wasserman Schultz and the Pakistani IT Scammers

NRO ^ | Andrew McCarthy

[RoosterRedux]

There’s more than bank fraud going on here.

In Washington, it’s never about what they tell you it’s about. So take this to the bank: The case of Imran Awan, Debbie Wasserman Schultz’s mysterious Pakistani IT guy, is not about bank fraud.

Yet bank fraud was the stated charge on which Awan was arrested at Dulles Airport this week, just as he was trying to flee the United States for Pakistan, via Qatar. That is the same route taken by Awan’s wife, Hina Alvi, in March, when she suddenly fled the country, with three young daughters she yanked out of school, mega-luggage, and $12,400 in cash.

By then, the proceeds of the fraudulent $165,000 loan they’d gotten from the Congressional Federal Credit Union had been sent ahead. It was part of a $283,000 transfer that Awan managed to wire from Capitol Hill. He pulled it off — hilariously, if infuriatingly — by pretending to be his wife in a phone call with the credit union. Told that his proffered reason for the transfer (“funeral arrangements”) wouldn’t fly, “Mrs.” Awan promptly repurposed: Now “she” was “buying property.” Asking no more questions, the credit union wired the money . . . to Pakistan.

As you let all that sink in, consider this: Awan and his family cabal of fraudsters had access for years to the e-mails and other electronic files of members of the House’s Intelligence and Foreign Affairs Committees. It turns out they were accessing members’ computers without their knowledge, transferring files to remote servers, and stealing computer equipment — including hard drives that Awan & Co. smashed to bits of bytes before making tracks.

They were fired in February. All except Awan, that is. He continued in the employ of Wasserman Schultz...

[butterdezillion]

I just want to add that Obama claimed for himself - and was lawfullly authorized under the NDAA, again based on “national security” - the power to kill or imprison any US person deemed to be a “national security” risk. No legal recourse for the person or their family; all secret and no questions allowed to be asked.

Was Andrew Breitbart a national security risk, in the eyes of Obama? Was Michael Hastings? Was my husband a “national security risk” and that’s why it was OK for him and my daughter to be poisoned right after I was (supposedly, I didn’t get the message because my blog email notifications had been hacked and turned off) told my husband would have to “lose his job” if I didn’t stop investigating Fuddy’s “death”?

If, in the eyes of Obama the Usurper, we threatened “national security” then he could do whatever he wanted to us, with Congressional approval.

How in the HELL is this still America?

[smileyface]

This looks to be much bigger than Watergate. These guys are foreign nationals with possible ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2017/07/28/shaffer_evidence_that_wasserman_schultz_used_pakistani_imran_awan_for_malevolent_activities_against_bernie_sanders.html

[smileyface]

Maybe she was thinking about going to jail or hanging from a noose...

[The_Media_never_lie]

We don't know how big it is yet, but we do know that a similar scandal involving Republicans would be treated as a huge story. But the day after the story broke (after the Dallas arrest), I counted 180 stories on the NBC news web site, and this story was NOT one of them.

---

What does that tell us about the story's potential to damage the Democrats? We truly live behind the Iron Curtain.

Some enterprising country should start up a Radio Free America beamed to Americans.

[butterdezillion]

Shaffer says they did “voice change calls” to harm Bernie. What is that?

[Chgogal]

What media?

[iontheball]

I will answer Andy's parting question in his article as why nothing got done regarding the Awan spy scandal for so long. It is because the Awan national security treason trail leads to the WH. Schultz was just being a good soldier for the Traitor in Chief.

[Don Corleone]

As always with the Democrat Party its TREASON. They have been an active arm of the Communist Party and its progressive movement for over 100 years, at least since Woodrow Wilson.

[spokeshave]

Told that his proffered reason for the transfer (“funeral arrangements”) wouldn’t fly, “Mrs.” Awan promptly repurposed: Now “she” was “buying property.” Asking no more questions, the credit union wired the money . . . to Pakistan.

Yeah...correct ...he was buying a mausoleum.

[Rummyfan]

It was part of a $283,000 transfer that Awan managed to wire from Capitol Hill. He pulled it off — hilariously, if infuriatingly — by pretending to be his wife in a phone call with the credit union. Told that his proffered reason for the transfer (“funeral arrangements”) wouldn’t fly, “Mrs.” Awan promptly repurposed: Now “she” was “buying property.” Asking no more questions, the credit union wired the money . . . to Pakistan.

it took me two trips to Navy Fed to get all the information together for a nine-hundred dollar transfer to Italy. Yet this guy was able to transfer almost $300K to Pakistan?! Over the phone?! WTF?!

[Rummyfan]

Yep, huge story which the MSM is basically ignoring. And where is Was-a-Man Schultz?

[dennisw]

Great comparison.... I have heard both those names but was not aware of those details. So if you are a prescription drug addict (or can make a phony case that you are one) you kinda get a free pass. Like loony murderers who dodge execution because....they are crazy = Affirmative action for crazy murderers.

[Rummyfan]

The only thing that makes sense ( warning...not pretty thought to come ) Imran was stoopin DWS.

OHMIGAWD! How much would she have to pay him for that?!

[dennisw]

You are right that dirty Debbie does Dulles (airport) probably has a huge dirt file on various DC swamp creatures....if she can talk that way to the Capitol Hill Police. But half their mission is to be gofers and to suck up to Congress critters so they get ever more funding. My take anyway.

I believe Capitol Hill Police is one of those Federale agencies that is 80% black. Tough to get a job there if you are white and the salaries and benefits / pensions must be sky high.

[Steve_Seattle]

"What does that tell us about the story's potential to damage the Democrats? We truly live behind the Iron Curtain."

The press love to describe Republican politicians as "uncurious." Reagan was "uncurious," Bush II (though an avid reader of history) was "uncurious," and now Trump is "uncurious." But the press are themselves always very "uncurious" about scandals or potential scandals involving Democrats, and this is just the latest example.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Told that his proffered reason for the transfer (“funeral arrangements”) wouldn’t fly, “Mrs.” Awan promptly repurposed: Now “she” was “buying property.”

Reminds me of a scam phone call I got:

Caller: We have detected suspicious activity on your Apple account.

Me: I don't have an Apple account.

Caller: What kind of account DO you have?

Me: (click)

[MurrietaMadman]

the media is stonewalling.......

I don't think stonewalling is what the GOPe is doing here. They are attempting to redefine the narrative that has been developed over the last six months.

...It turns out they were accessing members’ computers without their knowledge, transferring files to remote servers, and stealing computer equipment —

The imperative mandate of anyone who seeks and serves in congress is honoring the responsibility given them by those who voted them into Office.

Like all participants in a crime that results in a death share the burden of penalty fitting that crime, any congressional member who provides access to any information that could lead to the undermining of our defense should be held as accountable as the perpetrator of the treasonous act committed under their watch.

What are the intended results of treasonous actions of this magnitude but to lead to the death of our nation?

When will, say, hero McCain schedule a press conference to explain how that redirection of the investigation away from the wide and deep treasonous event benefit the nation?

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Awan pretended to be his wife in a phone call with the credit union. Told that his proffered reason for the money transfer (“funeral arrangements”) wouldn’t fly, “Mrs.” Awan promptly repurposed: Now “she” was “buying property.” Asking no more questions, the credit union wired the money . . . to Pakistan.

The Dems will argue that he was identifying as a woman on that day, so what's the crime? The prosecution is obviously trannie-phobic.

[eyeamok]

it is plausible that a few House members were oblivious as to how much these guys were being (over)paid

Unfortunately I am personally opposed to EVER giving ANY Public Servant the Benefit of Doubt, especially CONgress.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

The FBI should work to find one or two honest House members...

I looked real hard, but I still can't find your sarcasm tag.

Every member paying the Awans (EVERY member) is a Dem. Just what "services" were they buying for their sub-$20,000 payments? Why did 31 Democrat members decide they had to pay these "IT contractors" on their own? What special IT services were being provided that the Congressional IT Department could not provide?

I seriously doubt you'd find an honest Congressman among them.

I suppose it is possible their staff people made the Awan payments without the boss's knowledge -- which may be likely given the small amounts paid.

Still, the unanswered question is WHAT were they buying? I very much doubt it was IT expertise. Hush money? Secret payoffs by sympathizers to the moslem brotherhood?