South OC Times

Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-48) joined Congressman Jim Banks (IN-03) and 20 House colleagues in sending a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Attorney General Merrick Garland, and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. The letter requests answers on Iranian funding of anti-Israel protests in the United States, following testimony by Director Haines that Iran is financing these activities.

The letter, led by Congressman Banks, urges the Department of Justice to prosecute individuals and entities violating anti-terrorism statutes by accepting financial aid from Iran, a state sponsor of terrorism.

“Director Haines’s testimony that Iran is funding antisemitic and anti-Israel protests across America demands a full investigation. For months, we’ve seen protests on college campuses and recently witnessed the American flag being burned and replaced with the Palestinian flag near the Capitol. The American people deserve to know Iran's influence in these protests and the extent of the alliance between the Progressive Left and the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism. I join Congressman Banks in urging the Administration to take action and provide Congress and the public with the answers we deserve," stated Rep. Issa.

Rep. Issa further expressed skepticism about receiving truthful or meaningful responses from the Biden-Harris Administration: “I doubt we’ll get the truth or any meaningful course correction from the Biden-Harris Administration — including its failure to enforce sanctions that enriched Iran and powered China, refusing to come clean about potential espionage related to Antony Blinken’s close friend Rob Malley, to the failure to react to reports of Iranian involvement in the attempted assassination of President Trump.”

The letter includes several pointed questions:

1. Which specific individuals and entities have received financial assistance directly or indirectly from the Government of Iran or any entities affiliated with it?

2. Have any groups been notified about their Iranian funding? If so, which organizations have been informed?

3. What due diligence measures are in place for those receiving this funding against illicit actors?

4. Have any organizations voluntarily given up this funding or indicated they would reject such support in future?

5. What is the estimated total amount of financial support provided by Iran to these groups, and how long has this been occurring?

6. Does ODNI or FBI evidence suggest that any anti-Israel groups knew or should have known they were receiving support from an SSOT or FTO?

7. Has Treasury notified any financial institutions used for processing illicit payments?

8. Were any transactions identified and blocked by Treasury?

The Washington Free Beacon highlighted this letter in an exclusive piece.

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