Primary challenger Michael Weinstock has accused U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) of supporting an Islamic relations group designated as an unindicted co-conspirator in terrorist activities by the federal government.
In an op-ed piece published by Jewishpress.com, Weinstock called for Suozzi to rescind a letter of support the congressman sent to the Council on American-Islamic Relations or CAIR, in November.
“I was shocked to learn that Suozzi recently sent a beautiful letter of support to CAIR, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, congratulating them on their gala fundraiser,” Weinstock, a Great Neck native, wrote in the piece.
The FBI cut ties with CAIR in the summer of 2008, according to the Investigative Project on Terrorism.
This was in response to the organization being named an unindicted co-conspirator in the provision of material supplies to Hamas, which is classified by the federal government as a foreign terrorist organization, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
No criminal charges were handed down to the organization according to the Department of Justice.
Suozzi’s letter sent to CAIR headquarters was in regard to the organization’s 25th Anniversary Gala on Nov. 9, 2019.
The letter commends the organization on “bringing together community leaders, scholars, and activists to celebrate CAIR’s work defending civil liberties,” according to the letter.
Suozzi touted the organization’s legal efforts “to uphold and defend the constitutional and civil rights of American Muslims,” the letter reads.
Weinstock wrote in his piece that U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) has previously addressed the organization’s “ties to terrorism” and cutting off contact with the organization “should be a government-wide policy” as stated in two separate federal documents.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, the FBI wrote, “Until we resolve whether there continues to be a connection between CAIR or its executives and Hamas, the FBI does not view CAIR as an appropriate liaison partner,” in an April 2009 letter to the U.S. Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology, and Homeland Security.
According to its website, CAIR is a nonprofit, grassroots civil rights and advocacy organization and America’s largest Muslim civil liberties organization, with affiliate offices nationwide.
The organization was founded in 1994 and “has worked to promote a positive image of Islam and Muslims in America”, according to the website.
Despite those efforts, CAIR has been tied to other organizations that promote and condone terrorism and anti-Semitic propaganda, according to the ADL.
According to documents obtained by the Washington Free Beacon, Suozzi was not the only representative to reach out to CAIR. The documents show more than 100 members of Congress sent letters of support to the organization ahead of their gala.
Efforts to reach Suozzi or representatives from his campaign for comment were unavailing.
“Suozzi’s endorsement of this anti-Semitic organization tells us that his support of the Jewish community is completely transactional,” Weinstock said. “When he supports us- it’s never heartfelt.”
