As FBI Director Mueller Helped Cover Up Fla. 9/11 Probe, Court Docs Show
JANUARY 24, 2018
Court documents recently filed by the government further rock the credibility of Russia Special Counsel Robert Mueller because they show that as FBI Director Mueller he worked to cover up the connection between a Florida Saudi family and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The documents reveal that Mueller was likely involved in publicly releasing deceptive official agency statements about a secret investigation of the Saudis, who lived in Sarasota, with ties to the hijackers. A Florida journalism nonprofit uncovered the existence of the secret FBI investigation that was also kept from Congress.
Under Mueller’s leadership, the FBI tried to discredit the story, publicly countering that agents found no connection between the Sarasota Saudi family and the 2001 terrorist plot. The reality is that the FBI’s own files contained several reports that said the opposite, according to the Ft. Lauderdale-based news group’s ongoing investigation. Files obtained by reporters in the course of their lengthy probe reveal that federal agents found “many connections” between the family and “individuals associated with the terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001.” The FBI was forced to release the once-secret reports because the news group sued in federal court when the information wasn’t provided under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
The disingenuous statements were issued by FBI officials in Miami and Tampa in a desperate effort to disparage a 2011 story exposing the agency’s covert investigation of the Sarasota Saudis as well as reporting that it had been concealed from Congress. Mueller is referenced in a document index that was ordered by a federal judge to be created in late November 2017. The south Florida judge, William J. Zloch, a Ronald Reagan appointee, asked the FBI to explain where it had discovered dozens of pages of documents in the public-records case filed six years ago. The index reference to then-FBI Director Mueller appears in an item involving an agency white paper written a week after the publication of a news story about the abrupt departure of Saudis Abdulaziz and Anoud al-Hijji from their Sarasota area home about two weeks before 9/11. The couple left behind their cars, clothes, furniture, jewelry and other personal items. “It was created to brief the FBI Director concerning the FBI’s investigation of 4224 Escondito Circle,” the al-Hijjis’ address, the index says.
Though the recently filed court documents reveal Mueller received a briefing about the Sarasota Saudi investigation, the FBI continued to publicly deny it existed and it appears that the lies were approved by Mueller. Not surprisingly, he didn’t respond to questions about this new discovery emailed to his office by the news organization that uncovered it. Though the mainstream media has neglected to report this relevant development, it’s difficult to ignore that it chips away at Mueller’s credibility as special counsel to investigate if Russia influenced the 2016 presidential election. Even before the Saudi coverup documents were exposed by nonprofit journalists, Mueller’s credentials were questionable to head any probe. Back in May Judicial Watch reminded of Mueller’s misguided handiwork and collaboration with radical Islamist organizations as FBI director.
Back in 2013 Judicial Watch exclusively obtained droves of records documenting how, under Mueller’s leadership, the FBI purged all anti-terrorism training material deemed “offensive” to Muslims after secret meetings between Islamic organizations and the then-FBI chief. Judicial Watch had to sue to get the records and published an in-depth report on the scandal in 2013 and a lengthier, updated follow-up in 2015. As FBI director, Mueller bent over backwards to please radical Islamist groups and caved into their demands. The agency eliminated the valuable anti-terrorism training material and curricula after Mueller met with various Islamist organizations, including those with documented ties too terrorism. Among them were two organizations— Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)—named by the U.S. government as unindicted co-conspirators in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation terrorist financing case. CAIR is a terrorist front group with extensive links to foreign and domestic Islamists. It was founded in 1994 by three Middle Eastern extremists (Omar Ahmad, Nihad Awad and Rafeeq Jaber) who ran the American propaganda wing of Hamas, known then as the Islamic Association for Palestine.
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Poll briefing to reveal Mountain West voters' views on public lands and water, outdoor recreation and energy industries, and Trump administration policies
Eighth annual Colorado College Conservation in the West Poll surveys voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming
COLORADO SPRINGS — The Colorado College State of the Rockies Project will release its eighth annual Conservation in the West Poll on a press conference call this Thursday at 10am MST, which will reveal the views of Mountain West voters on the Trump administration’s priorities for managing the use and protection of public lands.
The media briefing call will provide in-depth analysis of the bipartisan survey across eight Western states. The findings cover some of the most pressing issues involving public lands and waters, including proposals to eliminate or alter national monuments and plans to open new lands to mining and drilling.
For media outlets and reporters in the Denver area: Conservation in the West Poll findings will be the topic of a panel discussion at the Outdoor Retailer + Snow Show at noon on Thursday at Le Meridien Denver Downtown, 1475 California Street. The discussion is open to media. For more information, please visit https://outdoorindustry.org/industry-lunch-2018-state-rockies-conservation-west/.
MEDIA BRIEFING CALL DETAILS
WHAT: Media briefing call discussing Colorado College State of the Rockies Project Conservation in the West Poll
WHEN: Thursday, January 25th at 10 a.m. MST
WHERE: Dial conference number (855) 796-8563 and enter ID code 8558416
To follow the poll presentation during the call, go to: http://presentain.com/ccpoll
WHO:
NOTE: Poll results, infographics and briefing call slides will be available on the Colorado College State of the Rockies Project website when the media briefing call begins at 10 a.m. MST
About Colorado College
Colorado College is a nationally prominent, four-year liberal arts college that was founded in Colorado Springs in 1874. The college operates on the innovative Block Plan, in which its 2,000 undergraduate students study one course at a time in intensive three and a half-week segments. For the past twelve years, the college has sponsored the State of the Rockies Project, which seeks to increase public understanding of vital issues affecting the Rocky Mountain West through annual reports, free events, discussions, and other activities.
About Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates
Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates (FM3)—a national Democratic opinion research firm with offices in Oakland, Los Angeles and Madison, Wisconsin—has specialized in public policy oriented opinion research since 1981. The firm has assisted hundreds of political campaigns at every level of the ballot—from President to City Council—with opinion research and strategic guidance. FM3 also provides research and strategic consulting to public agencies, businesses and public interest organizations nationwide.
About Public Opinion Strategies
Public Opinion Strategies is the largest Republican polling firm in the country. Since the firm’s founding in 1991, they have completed more than 10,000 research projects, interviewing more than five million Americans across the United States. Public Opinion Strategies’ research is well respected, and prestigious media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, NBC News, and CNBC rely on Public Opinion Strategies to conduct their polling. The firm conducts opinion research on behalf of hundreds of political campaigns, as well as trade associations, not-for-profit organizations, government entities, and industry coalitions throughout the nation.
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Utah maintains AAA credit rating from all major rating agencies, saves taxpayer dollars
SALT LAKE CITY (January 24, 2018) – Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and Treasurer David Damschen today announced that S&P Global, Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings have reaffirmed the State’s AAA credit rating – the highest rating a state can receive.
“I am proud that Utah is once again among only a handful of states to receive a AAA rating by all three rating agencies. This impressive accomplishment and Utah’s broad economic success can be largely credited to our conservative approach to budgeting, debt management and other financial policies,” Gov. Herbert said. “In Utah, we are thorough and collaborative in our fiscal management, and I applaud the Utah team for this collective achievement.”
Agencies base their ratings on a range of financial, economic, managerial and institutional factors. Utah’s history of continuous AAA bond ratings dates back to 1965, when S&P initiated its rating system. The State’s AAA rating with Moody’s commenced in 1973 and with Fitch Ratings in 1992.
“Maintaining the highest credit ratings saves Utah taxpayer dollars by allowing us to finance large projects at the lowest interest rates available. High ratings also signal to investors that the State can and will meet its financial obligations to pay both interest and principal,” Treasurer Damschen said. “These ratings are indicative of good financial management practices and a strong economy.”
As cited in the rating reports, the agencies’ rationales for Utah’s ratings include:
A diverse and rapidly growing economy, with a young, well-educated workforce, job growth across most major sectors and an unemployment rate that is among the lowest of the 50 states.
Strong growth in Utah's broad-based revenues, reflecting the breadth of the economy and its strong growth potential.
Continued good financial management and structurally balanced financial operations, including proactive budget adjustments to maintain adequate rainy-day reserves, conservative estimates of revenue growth and ample liquidity with no need to access external markets for cash flow.
A conservative approach to debt, which is closely managed through both constitutional and statutory formula.
Low and quickly amortizing debt, despite the demands of population growth. Combined tax-supported debt per capita of $808, or 1.6% of state GDP and 2.0% of total personal income.
Low long-term liabilities, with the combined burden of net tax-supported debt and unfunded pension liabilities equal to 3.9% of personal income, compared to the 6% median for U.S. states.
A strong governmental framework, with a constitutional requirement to maintain a balanced budget and a fiscal policy that allows for changes to the revenue structure and program spending by a simple majority of the legislature.
A demonstrated ability to take prompt action to maintain budgetary balance as well as to restore fiscal flexibility during growth periods, while managing pressures associated with a growing population.
