Feds Probe Jane Harman's Relationship with AIPAC

[Oilwellian]

Did a Democratic member of Congress improperly enlist the support of a major pro-Israel lobbying group to try to win a top committee assignment? That's the question at the heart of an ongoing investigation by the FBI and Justice Department prosecutors, who are examining whether Rep. Jane Harman of California and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) may have violated the law in a scheme to get Harman reappointed as the top Democrat on the House intelligence committee, according to knowledgeable sources in and out of the U.S. government.

The sources tell TIME that the investigation by Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has simmered out of sight since about the middle of last year, is examining whether Harman and AIPAC arranged for wealthy supporters to lobby House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi on Harman's behalf. Harman said Thursday in a voicemail message that any investigation of — or allegation of improper conduct by — her would be "irresponsible, laughable and scurrilous." On Friday, Washington GOP super lawyer Ted Olson left voicemail messages underscoring that Harman has no knowledge of any investigation. "Congresswoman Harman has asked me to follow up on calls you've had," Olson said. "She is not aware of any such investigation, does not believe that it is occurring, and wanted to make sure that you and your editors knew that as far as she knows, that's not true... . No one from the Justice Department has contacted her." It is not, however, a given that Harman would know that she is under investigation. In a follow-up phone call from California, Olson said Harman hired him this morning because she takes seriously the possibility of a media report about an investigation of her, even though she does not believe it herself.

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1549069,00.html

[Tom Joad]

1. Jane Harmen has long been known as a very pro-militarist

congressperson. Wouldn't surprise me in the least.

[originalpckelly]

2. Crap, well she's a conservative Democrat...

figures.
:eyes:

Why would AIPAC be able to help her with an American House of Reps committee assignment?

Why does a lobby favoring a foreign country have that much power over our government?

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jim Sagle]

5. EeeeeKKK!!!!! Waiter, there's a jooooooo in my government!!!!!

[Temporary1]

38. Why do you take any criticism of anything Israeli as such an offense?

This is no better than the Bush criticism = antiamerican meme

[Jim Sagle]

43. Did you actually READ the comment before it was deleted for antisemitism?

It was not about the Israelis, it was an alarmed question about Jane Harman's ancestry.

[Temporary1]

45. I'm actually just talking about you here

You did the same thing when you cursed at President Carter.

Please realize more Israelis probably are critical of Israeli military policy than anyone else, including Americans.

[Name removed]

48. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Temporary1]

50. I've been reading here more than posting for a long time

That's what I'll say

[me b zola]

11. Keep in mind...

That it has been christian politicians whom have given so much power to AIPAC in US government. Her religious beliefs have less to do with whether she played footsie with AIPAC than does her desire for power.

[Tom Joad]

16. aipac, contrary to aipac and some of its detracters, does NOT represent

Jewish people. Jewish people are not monolithic when it comes to US support for Israel policies.
See for eg. http://jewishvoiceforpeace.org/

aipac also, as noted, does represent some Christian fundamentalist views in regards to supporting Israel policies.

Harman's ethnic/religious identity is not the issue, it is her extreme pro-militarist policies that are the issue, and here, her connection to a powerful lobby supporting her appointment.

[Kolesar]

15. very wealthy but she doesn't wear it well at all ...?

That's got me wondering. What do you mean?

[AlCzervik]

East coast jew here living in CA, not a fan of AIPAC, i'm not wealthy

and i don't wear it well but man you should see me drunk, now that i wear well.

[KittyWampus]

20. WTF? Is she jewish?

[AlCzervik]

23. omg!! Well Aye Nevah!!!

:+

[KittyWampus]

19. Well, AIPAC is a legal lobby. Lobbying is legal. This is bullshit

[KoKo]

27. You've gotta admit though that AIPAC has been up to some really bad

stuff in the Bush years, though. :shrug: Another "Think Tank" GONE WILD!

[originalpckelly]

32. Yes, lobbying is legal, are you defending this practice...

which has lead to corruption in our government? Don't you think it is kind of weird for people to support any foreign country so much they start up a lobby for it? I know Israel is one of our closest allies, but where are the lobbies for Australia, Canada, Japan, and the U.K?

[KittyWampus]

34. It. Is. Legal. Want to change lobbying laws?Great. Until then IT.IS.LEGAL

You want to change lobbying laws, I want to change lobbying laws. We both want to change lobbying laws.

But at the present time IT.IS.LEGAL.

Therefore THIS.IS.BULLSHIT

And while we both want to change lobbying laws, please to remember the ACLU and Sierra Club and Organized Labor are all lobbies.

[Tom Joad]

46. The subject here is undermining a criminal investigation.

The sources say the probe also involves whether, in exchange for the help from AIPAC, Harman agreed to help try to persuade the Administration to go lighter on the AIPAC officials caught up in the ongoing investigation. If that happened, it might be construed as an illegal quid pro quo, depending on the context of the situation. But the sources caution that there has been no decision to charge anyone and that it is unclear whether Harman and AIPAC acted on the idea

Quote from above Time article.

[Chulanowa]

49. Yeah, it's legal

Not everything that's legal is "right", however.

[Tom Joad]

44. Breaking News: Lobbies must follow laws.

[KoKo]

4. Are you reading this that Ted Olson is Jane Harmon's spokesperson

lawyer? :shrug:

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. Something stinks here.

Is she another Joe Lieberman?

[me b zola]

10. I don't think that she is

She has been coming out speaking against the policies/tactics of the gop. I think more likely she was like many in seeking powerful positions, and then when her conscience told her she must speak out against gross abuses of power all of the things that she has done to gain power are biting her in her arse. Lieberman has no conscience and continues to support the destruction of the Constitution.

[BootinUp]

7. her lawyer. n/t

[TahitiNut]

17. Interesting. Ted Olson is in the law firm that Jerry Lewis (R-CA) uses ...

... and which recently 'hired' the prosecutor who headed up the investigation of Lewis.

[me b zola]

8. IF this allegation is true...

IF this allegation is true then it sounds like Harman danced with the devil and is being punished for speaking out now on the side of good.

Also, if this allegation is true, Pelosi may feel as though she is constrained to act on the people's behalf if/when she becomes Speaker of the House.

[KoKo]

12. What I saw on CNN is that she and Peter Hoekstra (R) are in battle over

the release of the Senate Report on Iraq failures and that Harmon is pissed because her aide was fired and she says he was wrongly accused.

Blitzer said it was a huge battle between Harmon and Hoekstra. And, that Harmon denies that either she or her aide leaked the Senate Intelligence Report on Iraq failures.

So...Hoekstra/Repugs are now going to blow whistle that Harmon is in bed with AIPAC when most of their side of the aisle has been bedding them forever?

But...I've never trusted Jane Harmon...and if Ted Olson is her lawyer...then THROW HER UNDER THE BUS! She's only been sounding Demlike lately because she's up for re-election. She's a mole in the Dem Party if Ted Olson is her lawyer!

If I heard Ted Kennedy had Olson as his lawyer, I'd say it's time to throw Teddy "under the bus" too!

[KittyWampus]

24. If this is true, there was nothing done illegally. Distasteful, yes.

Illegal, probably no.

[Gabi Hayes]

9. what lawyer can you think of, if you're a dem, that you'd trust LESS

than Ted Olson

Ken Starr?

who else?

[KoKo]

13. I'd have to go to the Supremes to go lower. (Bill Bennet is kind of

suspect) but actually Ted and Ken Starr along with Bush Installing Supreme's have got to be the scum of the earth..

[TahitiNut]

18. How about anyone in Baker Botts?

:puke:

[KoKo]

21. Oh....you mean "Big Jim" ...."THE FIXER!" Well he's so low he's off radar

so he doesn't count. He's the SHADOW GOVT. :-(

[Tom Joad]

14. We have to stop aipac. It was proud of its "accomplishments" in Lebanon.

aipac does not speak for us, those who care about peace, justice, fairness.
It really takes extreme positions, such as opposing a "premature" ceasefire for Lebanon.


See for example here:
http://www.stopaipac.org/aipaclebanon.htm

It is not doing any favors for Israel, either, anymore than any group that supports Bush's policies.

[KoKo]

25. So...why do you think "they" are trying to attach Harmon to AIPAC?

especially when we know that some AIPACE's are either under investigation for lead up to Iraq and Chalibi and Franklin SpyGATE? Ties to Norquist and many, many others?

[razors edge]

26. After the Franklin spy incident

what exactly will it take to register AIPAC as a foreign lobby?

Would Steve and Kieth have to be caught smuggling cash into the WH and American plutonium into Haifa?

[KoKo]

28. It would take even more than that, probably. n/t

[Tom Joad]

29. Israel already has all the Plutonium it needs. Ask Israel hero

Mordechai Vanunu. Israel is armed to the teeth with nukes.

[razors edge]

37. Have you seen this

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/ArticleLayout/CdaArticlePrintPreview/1,2506,L-3317151,00.html

Pollard to PM: Your silence costing me my life

Israeli spy, jailed in US for nearly 21 years for espionage, writes letter to Olmert claiming him personally responsible for much of his suffering in past two decades. Pollard's wife, Esther, describes to Ynet her husband's shame when Olmert didn't mention his name in list of captives during Knesset speech

[Tom Joad]

30. I think the Intel committee would look into those allegations, hence

the push for a close friend of aipac at the helm.

From the above article:

The sources say the probe also involves whether, in exchange for the help from AIPAC, Harman agreed to help try to persuade the Administration to go lighter on the AIPAC officials caught up in the ongoing investigation. If that happened, it might be construed as an illegal quid pro quo, depending on the context of the situation. But the sources caution that there has been no decision to charge anyone and that it is unclear whether Harman and AIPAC acted on the idea

[razors edge]

33. I have no problem

supporting a loyal ally, but our reps have got to start putting America first.

[Tom Joad]

39. aipac is supporting policies that hurt the US and Israel and Palestinians

Just like Bush hurts america and Iraqis and the rest of the Middle East.

What we really need to do is to put Peace, Justice, fairness first. That will be for everyone.

[razors edge]

41. Absolutely the best propaganda

on the planet for what I can see. Make them think they are being served as the temple crumbles around them.

We accept cash, visa, mastercard, but prefer american express delivery systems.

[Cocoa]

22. why does the DOJ hate Jews?

:sarcasm:

[KittyWampus]

35. That's actually a great line, Cocoa

[Tom Joad]

40. Just because they are investigating a spying charge?

is aipac supposed to be immune from the laws of the United States?

[KittyWampus]

42. it throws their own usual red herring back at them

[chill_wind]

52. The Bush DOJ hates Democrats.

Can't help but think this is an attempt to get something thrown at Pelosi more than Harmon. GOP are scared sh*tless of her come Nov 8.....

[burythehatchet]

31. PURGE PURGE PURGE

get this entire nest of spies and traitors out of my government...if she's guilty.

[KittyWampus]

36. guilty? of what? consorting with lobbyists? that is legal. They'd have to

prove something illegal like blatant quid pro quo.

[Tom Joad]

47. I support the legal system.

Of course they have to prove this in a court of law. But we are discussing a crime here, not mere lobbying.

[chill_wind]

51. Reality: Dems get far more AIPAC & Pro-Israel Monies

than GOPHERS. See the top 20 Congressional recipients of Pro-Israel Monies for 2006 so far and previous election cycles. (and much more is available at opensecets.org. where I got this data from). A few months ago Hillary topped the list. Now Lieberman does. And see all the rest of the Dems.

http://journals.democraticunderground.com/chill_wind/22

It's what they do with it mid-east war and policy-wise that is worth the observing.


Other data here-- (looks like PAC monies only) "Career Recipients." (see foonotes). Harmon and Pelosi are both on that one. Also Reid.

2004 & Top Ten Career Recipients of Pro-Israel PAC Funds

Compiled by Hugh Galford


House: Current Cycle
Hoyer, Steny (D-MD) $37,500
Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana (R-FL) 36,000
Berkley, Shelley (D-NV) 35,100
Lantos, Tom (D-CA) 31,600
Frost, Martin (D-TX) 31,300
Cantor, Eric (R-VA) 23,750
Crowley, Joseph (D-NY) 23,000
DeLay, Tom (R-TX) 23,000
Lowey, Nita (D-NY) 20,650
Pelosi, Nancy (D-CA) 20,650



House: Career
Berkley, Shelley (D-NV) $201,455
Frost, Martin (D-TX) 165,414
Engel, Eliot (D-NY) 137,918
Levin, Sander (D-MI) 113,727
Lowey, Nita (D-NY) 109,738
Lantos, Tom (D-CA) 107,250
Hoyer, Steny (D-MD) 92,275
Evans, Lane (D-IL) 87,379
Harman, Jane (D-CA) 86,271
DeLay, Tom (R-TX) 81,050



Senate: Current Cycle
Specter, Arlen (R-PA) $80,350
Boxer, Barbara (D-CA) 73,000
Murray, Patty (D-WA) 72,495
Daschle, Tom (D-SD) 70,500
Reid, Harry (D-NV) 64,999
Bayh, Evan (D-IN) 56,500
Bennett, Robert (R-UT) 55,750
Wyden, Ronald (D-OR) 55,000
Brownback, Samuel (R-KS) 50,850
Shelby, Richard (R-AL) 38,500


Senate: Career
Daschle, Tom (D-SD) $533,635
Specter, Arlen (R-PA) 461,973
Lautenberg, Frank (D-NJ) 433,806
Durbin, Richard (D-IL) 326,671
Reid, Harry (D-NV) 318,801
Wyden, Ronald (D-OR) 255,562
Lieberman, Joseph (D-CT) 227,758
Boxer, Barbara (D-CA) 223,794
Dodd, Christopher (D-CT) 221,178
Conrad, Kent (D-ND) 201,939


more: http://www.wrmea.com/archives/July_Aug_2004/0407027.html

I am not suggesting any wrongdoing. I just think a lot of people have a misperception that Dems and AIPAC don't intersect money-wise (and presumably influence-wise). They very definitely do.

[Tom Joad]

53. This should change. aipac's policies are too extreme for the Dem party

to continue to support. e.g. its opposition to a cease-fire in Lebanon, is a case in point.
See here:
http://www.stopaipac.org/aipaclebanon.htm

[chill_wind]

54. Most RECENT case in point- IFSA bill (Iran)

Reid and Dems helped rush Bush/Santorum's Iran Freedom Support Act last thing before recess. (sanctions and regime change language). It's gotten zero attention in MSM and not much anywere else either.

Ponder this: Reid had a hold on the bill for serious debate until after recess. He took his hold off it at the zero hour before they were rushing out for recess without public explanation. I for one hope we will all push for an explanation from all of them when they return.

In fact it seems Iran has about all but dropped off the political radar after this big pre-recess bill-rushing emergency.

I'm just remembering today is Oct 21. Right about the time our great big Naval envoy was supposed to be arriving in the region.

Updates:
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=taxonomy/term/51