March 20, 2012

Feds Decline To Investigate K Street Lobbyists Working On Behalf Of U.S.-Designated ‘Terrorist’ Group

An MEK logo

As Republic Report reported last week, there are a number of high-profile American politicos — including former directors of the CIA and FBI, presidential candidates, and mayors of major American cities — who have taken up the cause of de-listing the  Mojahedin-e Khalq (MEK) from the State Department’s list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. The Department of Justice recently opened investigations into some of these individuals, as they have possibly provided material support to an organization deemed terrorists by U.S. law.

The Hill reports today that one group of MEK backers has not, as far as is known,  fallen under this investigation — the K Street lobbyists who are working to de-list the organization:

But lobby firms that have worked to legitimize MEK in the United States said the investigation hasn’t reached them.  Victoria Toensing, a founding partner of diGenova & Toensing, said her firm has not received a subpoena and doesn’t expect to. […]  “Why would I receive a subpoena?” Toensing said. “I was paid by individuals who are Americans and live in Texas. They are not on the terrorist list.” Toensing’s firm was paid $110,000 by the Iranian-American Community of North Texas before the lobbying registration was terminated last year, according to lobbying disclosure records.

It is interesting that while individuals like former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell are under investigation, lobbying firms have managed to escape, so far, inquiries from the Department of Justice.