Saddam Hussein's intelligence agency secretly financed a trip to Iraq for three U.S. lawmakers during the run-up to the U.S.-led invasion, federal prosecutors said Wednesday.
An indictment unsealed in Detroit accuses Muthanna Al-Hanooti, a member of a Michigan nonprofit group, of arranging for three members of Congress to travel to Iraq in October 2002 at the behest of Saddam's regime. Prosecutors say Iraqi intelligence officials paid for the trip through an intermediary.
This took place in the months just prior to the Iraqi invasion when the administration was trying to coax Congress to back military action. None of the lawmakers are named in the indictment but the timeline suggests they were: Democratic Reps. Jim McDermott of Washington, David Bonior of Michigan and Mike Thompson of California.
During the trip, the lawmakers expressed skepticism about the Bush administration's claims that Saddam was stockpiling weapons of mass destruction.
"War is not the answer," Bonior, who is no longer in Congress, said at a news conference while on the trip. "There is a way to resolve this."
Upon their return to the House, they were chastised by leading Republicans for sounding like cheerleaders for the Hussein regime.
It is believed none of the Congressmen knew about the funding arrangements.
1 comment:
"It is believed none of the Congressmen knew about the funding arrangements"
As Councilman Davis said on the wire:
SSSSSHHHHHHHEEEEEEEETTTTTT!!!!
Only a fool would be believing that.
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