Posted on 04/23/2002 3:13:05 AM PDT by kattracks
Capitol Hill (CNSNews.com) - A black conservative group is calling for the removal of Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-Ga.) from the House Armed Services and International Relations Committees for allegedly having ties to terrorists or terrorist allies.
"Dick Gephardt should remove her from those committees and launch an investigation into her donors," said Kevin Martin, director of government affairs for the African-American Republican Leadership Council (AARLC).
In a statement issued Monday, the group challenged McKinney because she has allegedly "refused to disavow support of known terrorist supporters including Hezbollah and Hamas protagonist Abdurahman Alamoudi."
As CNSNews.com previously reported, McKinney received $1000 from Alamoudi, the founder and former executive director of the American Muslim Council.
"I have been labeled by the media in New York as being a supporter of Hamas. Anybody supporters of Hamas here?" Alamoudi asked, to cheers from the crowd at an October 2000 White House protest of U.S. policies in the Middle East.
"Hear that, Bill Clinton? We are all supporters of Hamas ... I wish they added that I am also a supporter of Hezbollah," he added.
Both Hezbollah and Hamas are on the State Department's official list of terrorist organizations.
Alamoudi's contribution is one of 45 McKinney received during the 1999-2000 election cycle that did not list the occupation of the donor as required by the FEC. Those donations totaled $24,000 and included contributions from other groups and individuals that have made statements considered supportive of terrorist organizations.
"Given the sensitive nature of the committees on which [McKinney] sits, the American people would be better served and rest easier at night reassured that [information from] the briefings this congresswoman might be privy to, does not end up in the wrong hands," the group's statement continued.
The AARLC is calling for a House Ethics Committee investigation into whether McKinney has "compromised her committees' assignments, is a friend of terrorists, has accepted funds from terrorists, aids and abets terrorists, committed treason in her oath to defend and protect the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic."
Martin says AARLC is also asking Rep. Eddie Bernie Johnson (D-Texas), chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, to suspend McKinney from that group.
The AARLC is the second group to formally request a congressional ethics probe into McKinney's conduct. The first was requested by the Southeastern Legal Foundation April 12. That request, made to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, also concerned contributions McKinney has received from alleged terrorist supporters.
SLF also sent a letter to House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) Monday requesting McKinney's removal from the two committees that receive intelligence briefings concerning the war on terrorism.
"The factual evidence is clear: McKinney has taken money from some very dangerous people who have publicly supported terrorist organizations," said Phil Kent, president of SLF.
"Congress must not tolerate the appearance of impropriety at a time when America is engaged in the war on terrorism. The stakes are too high, and she has too much access to classified information, to take this lightly," Kent said.
The letter argues that removing McKinney from the two committees is the "prudent course of action" until an investigation can be completed.
Multiple calls to McKinney's office requesting comment on this story were not returned prior to publication.
E-mail a news tip to Jeff Johnson.
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Well, one can hope... expect she'll slip the noose, but maybe Judge Majette can "put a skeer in her...."
. . .Gephardt will no doubt respond. . .but only 'in a pig's eye'.
We need to 'radio' for help on this one.
What treasonous things would they be?
Well, duh -- McKinney's claim to that effect is the subject of this thread. Do you think her statements have any validity?
Somehow, missed this. Hope this becomes a 'roll'. . .
If it were possible to determine at what time the message was played, you can order tapes from C-SPAN for everything they broadcast.
Slowly she turned, Step by step, inch by inch, All this woman needs is an axe to wield, and you've got the perfect lunatic.
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