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الوسم: congressional hearings

  • Muslim Groups Claim Republicans Weaponize Congressional Hearings

    Muslim Groups Claim Republicans Weaponize Congressional Hearings

    Muslim American organizations have voiced concern over congressional hearings that Republicans label as efforts to eliminate Sharia law from the U.S. They argue these hearings are being used as tools to manipulate and incite fear against Muslim minorities. The hearings, titled “Sharia-Free America: Why Political Islam and Sharia Law Are Incompatible with the U.S. Constitution,” were organized by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Wednesday. A similar session was conducted earlier in February.

    Republican Representative Chip Roy claimed that radical groups pushing political Islam aim to replace America’s cultural and political framework rather than coexist peacefully. Critics contend that such hearings unfairly target Muslims, revive conspiracy theories, and are unnecessary because U.S. laws govern on American soil. There is no substantiated evidence suggesting any mainstream Muslim organization in the U.S. advocates for implementing Sharia law nationally.

    The US Council of Muslim Organizations, which represents over 50 Muslim groups, condemned the hearings as an attempt to weaponize government against Muslims and said they are rooted in fear-mongering. Zainab Chaudry, Maryland director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), stated that these hearings are more about demonizing Islam and depicting Muslim Americans as perpetual outsiders rather than protecting constitutional principles.

    Democrats, including Rep. Jamie Raskin, called the hearings a distraction that undermines religious freedom. Over the years, advocacy groups have noted a rise in Islamophobic incidents, attributing these to the September 11 attacks, anti-immigration policies, white supremacy, and the repercussions of the recent conflict in Gaza. CAIR reported receiving a record 8,683 anti-Muslim or anti-Arab complaints in 2025, the highest since it began collecting data in 1996.

    A study by the Center for the Study of Organized Hate indicated a surge in anti-Muslim rhetoric from Republican officials since early 2025, citing more than 1,100 online posts by members of Congress and governors. Some Republican state governors in Florida and Texas have labeled CAIR — which opposed Trump’s immigration policies and protests supporting Palestine — as a terrorist organization. Civil rights groups continue to strongly oppose these characterizations.

  • Ghislaine Maxwell Asks Trump for Clemency Ahead of Testimony

    Ghislaine Maxwell Asks Trump for Clemency Ahead of Testimony

    Ghislaine Maxwell, an associate of Jeffrey Epstein, declined to answer questions from U.S. lawmakers on Monday, citing her Fifth Amendment rights to avoid self-incrimination. Her attorney stated she would be willing to speak publicly if she were granted clemency by President Donald Trump. Maxwell, 64, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking. She was subpoenaed by the House Oversight Committee to discuss her relationship with Epstein but chose to invoke her constitutional right instead of answering their questions. A video recording of her deposition revealed her sitting inside a Texas prison, refusing to speak on matters related to Epstein’s co-conspirators, their social circles, and any potential involvement of President Trump in sexual activities facilitated by her or Epstein. Dressed in a plain beige uniform, Maxwell repeatedly stated, “I invoke my Fifth Amendment right to silence,” leading the committee to end the questioning prematurely.

    Her lawyer, David Markus, emphasized that Maxwell was prepared to speak publicly if clemency was granted, suggesting that both former President Bill Clinton and Trump, both of whom had associations with Epstein, are innocent of wrongdoing and that Maxwell could provide explanations. Maxwell is the sole individual convicted in relation to Epstein’s crimes; Epstein died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Her conviction in 2021 involved her role in supplying underage girls to Epstein, who maintained ties with influential business leaders, politicians, celebrities, and academics. This deposition occurs amid the Justice Department’s recent release of millions of documents on Epstein’s case, many heavily redacted, following the passage of the Epstein Files Transparency Act (EFTA), which mandated full disclosure of all related government records, except for personal details of victims.

    Members of Congress gained access to the unredacted files on Monday, but only through secure, in-person visits. Democrat Jamie Raskin remarked that he saw many redacted names of individuals whom he believed to be enablers or collaborators. The Justice Department has indicated no new prosecutions are anticipated. Republican Thomas Massie disclosed that he identified six individuals whose names had been redacted but who likely face incrimination, including one possibly linked to a foreign government. Massie also shared a disturbing email from 2009, discussing a “torture video,” and revealed that billionaire Les Wexner, known for Victoria’s Secret, was listed as a co-conspirator in a child sex trafficking case from 2019, with his name previously redacted.

    The House Oversight Committee has invited Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton to testify about their contacts with Epstein—requests they want to make public to prevent political misuse. Although Trump was once close friends with Epstein, he has not been called to testify by the committee.