Ron Kirk (D) donor sentenced on charges related to anti-terror probe (SEE DOCUMENTS HERE!)

The Houston Review ^ | 10/29 | STAFF

[GOPcapitalist]

DALLAS - A former Ron Kirk campaign donor was sentenced on October 22, 2002 on charges stemming from an anti-terrorism investigation over illegal computer equipment exports to the Middle East. The United States Attorney's office for North Texas announced Ihsan Elashyi's sentencing to four years in prison plus over $280,000 in restitution for his four-count guilty plea from a 39-count federal indictment (See USDOJ website). The Associated Press reports that Elashyi's conviction was the first criminal action to come from a 2 year investigation by the government's North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force.

As was first reported by the Austin Review (link to story) last June, Elashyi's name appears as a $500 contributor to the Ron Kirk campaign for Dallas mayor on April 24, 1995. He is one of many Kirk donors affiliated with a group of organizations and companies in the Dallas area that have been under scrutiny recently. Kirk is currently the Democratic nominee for an open U.S. Senate seat from Texas.

Elashyi, who pled guilty in June, was sentenced on counts including money laundering, wire fraud, and activities related to the violation of a U.S. Commerce Department shipping ban against the computer companies Infocom and Tetrabal. Elashyi is the principle owner of Tetrabal and has worked for Infocom, which is run by his brothers. Both companies are based in Richardson, TX.

The Commerce Department's Bureau of Export Administration (BXA) imposed a temporary denial order on shipping against the two companies last September based on evidence that they had engaged in the illegal export of computer equipment to Libya by way of Malta and to Syria. The BXA, which is tasked to administer and enforce export controls for reasons of national security and anti-terrorism among other things, noted in its statements on the export ban that both Libya and Syria are "countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism by the U.S. Department of State." Shipping to Libya in particular is severely restricted by the United States government for anti-terrorism reasons.

Tetrabal continued to make computer shipments to the Middle East in violation of the temporary export ban imposed on Elashyi and his companies last September. Elashyi negotiated the sale of 119 computers to a company in Saudi Arabia on September 22, 2001 in violation of the export ban. The BXA noted that Elashyi had participated in exports "similar to those made by Tetrabal" while at Infocom.

Infocom has been at the center of government anti-terrorism investigations over the last year. The firm came under scrutiny after receiving a $250,000 investment from the wife of Mousa Abu Marzook, a Hamas leader based in Syria. Infocom has also been closely linked to the non-profit Holy Land Foundation (HLF), which was chartered by Elashyi's brother and fellow Infocom principle Ghassan Elashyi. The Treasury Department froze of the HLF last December based upon evidence of the group's ties to terrorist organizations. U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft detailed the link between Infocom and HLF, which also received financial backing from Marzook, at a December 4, 2001 press conference:

"The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, based in Richardson, Texas, shares employees of an Internet company known as Infocom. Infocom was raided by the FBI and had its assets frozen by the Treasury Department six days before the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks and the plane crash in Pennsylvania. Infocom, like the Holy Land Foundation, received much of its early money from Mousa Abu Marzook, a top Hamas official who, the U.S. courts have determined, was directly involved in terrorism."

Ashcroft's comments were echoed by President Bush, who stated "Money raised by the Holy Land Foundation is used by Hamas to support schools and indoctrinate children to grow up into suicide bombers." Bush announced the decision to freeze the HLF's assets from the White House Rose Garden on December 2, 2001.

Infocom and HLF official Ghassan Elashyi is also a principle figure in the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a controversial political action group that has come under criticism for its seemingly apologetic portrayal of Islam's radical factions. CAIR's website for their Dallas chapter brags of having "developed relationships with . . . Former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk," who they also identify as the Democratic U.S. Senate candidate from Texas. Kirk, who has made a major campaign issue out of his opponent John Cornyn's past receipt of donations from individuals affiliated with Enron, has yet to comment on his own affiliation with the group or with donor Ihsan Elashyi.

USDOJ Link: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/txn/PressRel02/elashyi_sen_pr.html
Austin Review Story: http://www.austinreview.com/articles/2002_04b/kirk.htm

DOCUMENTATION OF ELASHYI'S DONATION TO KIRK:

[GOPcapitalist]

This story has got to be one of the best kept secrets in Texas. The "mainstream" media, which wouldn't dare contradict their image of Kirk as a "pro business moderate," has COMPLETELY IGNORED Kirk's dubious donors.

Its all there, fully documented and plain as day for anybody to see. Spread the word before the 'rats elect a replacement for Cynthia McKinney's soon to be vacated role as the official apologist for terrorism in Congress.

[Dallas]

Kirk is the media darling, as you know. This will probably never see the light of day...

[GOPcapitalist]

We can make sure that they know about it...

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[GOPcapitalist]

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[GOPcapitalist]

bump - more on ron kirk

[ConservativeDude]

if this is a texas mini-forum here, spread the word that someone needs to do a hit piece on Sherry Boyles and fast.

Sure she is going to get her clock cleaned this time. But she is a very good campaigner, young, hard working. She is young and dangerous and I think we are going to have to deal with her for the next 30 years. She strikes me as a looney leftist, and very capable.

I think she was student body prez at UT.

[KSCITYBOY]

Bump democrats=terrorists.

[PetroniDE]

Houston Bump.

[Flyer]

FYI *PING!*

As always, a FReep mail will get you on or off this Houston topics ping list.

---

[Dog Gone]

Elashyi's name appears as a $500 contributor to the Ron Kirk campaign for Dallas mayor on April 24, 1995

I have long been a vocal Cornyn supporter, but I have trouble getting excited about this.

Was Kirk supposed to know that this guy was going to be convicted? Had he even committed the crime yet?

How much time should a campaign devote to researching the background of every campaign donor? Can they even afford to do that?

Having said that, if everyone else in the state thinks this is a huge blow to the Kirk campaign, I'm all in favor of that.

[wharfrat]

I have written many scathing assessments of the tactics that this Ferret Faced Rat has generated.! Citizens of The Sovereign State Of Texas please do not miss the importance of defeating kirk in this race. His ultimate demise is dependent on forcing him to address the issues squarely which he refuses to do. I am from Dallas/Irving and I know how he operates! This not repeat not a moderate anything, This is a power mad foaming at the mouth Rabid liberal trash talking politician who presents the most serious challenge to the viability of the Great State Of Texas.

This is a smooth well financed liberal Rat with a pearly grin! He is not a Statesman in any sense of the word. This second class baby kisser is counting on those who he knows won't do their part. He knows every dirty trick in the book and plays the Race Card very effectively. For him to be elected would be too much to bear. Please do your part take this dirt bag liberal to the dumpster for a slam dunk!

[TheGrimReaper]

I voted early yesterday.
Seeing no downside, I voted a straight GOP ticket.
Mrs. Reaper will be doing likewise tomorrow.

[GOPcapitalist]

if this is a texas mini-forum here, spread the word that someone needs to do a hit piece on Sherry Boyles and fast.

Got you covered. Check out this story on her: http://www.austinreview.com/articles/2002_08/railroad.htm

[GOPcapitalist]

I have long been a vocal Cornyn supporter, but I have trouble getting excited about this.

In itself, your point is valid. But keep in mind that we live in a political world where a contribution from Enron 10 years ago is grounds for a campaign smear commercial, three mail pieces, and a negative radio ad. Kirk has hammered Cornyn mercilessly for taking Enron cash long before we ever knew anything was wrong with Enron. That makes Kirk's own dubious donors fair game.

Was Kirk supposed to know that this guy was going to be convicted? Had he even committed the crime yet?

It is my belief that reason existed at the time for Kirk to refuse the donation and was likely known to Kirk. It was evidently one of several checks he recieved at the same time from radical islamics in Dallas - a group he courted heavily in his first bid for mayor. I think the specific crimes - exporting to Libya etc - occured from 1997 to last year. Infocom recieved its first financial from the Hamas guy in 1993 though.

Having said that, if everyone else in the state thinks this is a huge blow to the Kirk campaign, I'm all in favor of that.

Thats the thing - it represents a long pattern of Kirk courting these people. He's taken cash from the CAIR crowd for years. He's made all those goofy comments about Iraq. He sided with the Palestinians in the debate. He employed one of John Walker Lindh's political buddies on his campaign. That this Infocom guy's convicted now in a terrorism investigation simply makes it one of the more embarrassing moments for Kirk.

[Dog Gone]

I agree with all those points, and I hope we can make some political hay out of it.

I think Cornyn is in good shape going into the final week, but it's not over until we have buried Kirk.

[GOPcapitalist]

Excuses, excuses...what's it gonna be?

[#3Fan]

You don't know the meaning of the word "extensive".

[GOPcapitalist]

More excuses.

[#3Fan]

Nope, I said "extensive".

[GOPcapitalist]

More excuse making.