Rep. Peter King (R-NY) and Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA) went after the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) at the Homeland Security Committee’s hearing on Muslim radicalization on Thursday.
“Let me be clear, CAIR is counterproductive and it is hurting the American Muslim community,” Wolf said. “I raise the concerns because if we are to successfully counter radical terrorism, law enforcement will need the active engagement of the Muslim communities.”
“Last week during a hearing before my subcommittee, Attorney General Eric Holder recognized CAIR’s troubled history, he said, and the FBI director has suspended all noninvestigative cooperation with CAIR,” Wolf said.
“My concern is not limited to its disturbing origins and connections to terrorist finances,” Wolf said. “I’m equally concerned about it’s role attacking the reputation of any who dare to raise concerns about domestic radicalization.”
King said that “responsible Muslim American leaders” must reject CAIR.
“In the lead up to this hearing, I found it shocking and sad that the mainstream media accepted CAIR’s accusations as if it were a legitimate organization,” King said.
Ryan J. Reilly
Ryan J. Reilly is a D.C.-based reporter for TPM. Prior to joining TPM, he worked for a news website covering the Justice Department and was a researcher for Bloomberg News. His email address is ryan(at)talkingpointsmemo.com.
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