Bachmann Wants Investigation of Top Clinton Aide - McCain Slams Claims
By: CBS News
Updated: July 19, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC -- A member of Congress is asking the government to investigate one of the top officials at the State Department for suspected ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Huma Abedin has been by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's side since 1996.
But Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann wants the Inspector General's office to investigate Abedin. Bachmann claims: "Deputy Chief of Staff, Huma Abedin, has three family members - her late father, her mother and her brother - connected to Muslim Brotherhood operatives and/or organizations. Her position affords her routine access to the secretary and to policy-making."
Bachmann says the State Department has made several decisions which she believes are favorable to the Muslim Brotherhood.
In a floor speech Wednesday, Senator John McCain called Abedin a loyal American.
"Huma Abedin represents what is best about America. These attacks have no logic, no basis, and no merit and they need to stop."
Congresswoman Bachmann found Abedin's alleged connections to the Muslim Brotherhood in a paper from the Center For Security Policy.
Senator McCain calls the report "scurrilous." "These sinister accusations rest solely on a few unspecified and unsubstantiated associations of members of Huma's family, none of which have been shown to harm or threaten the United States in any way."
Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), a practicing Muslim, believes Bachmann may have other motives.
"If you're not the right religion or the right background in some way in her judgment, then you're just suspicious."
Abedin is married to former Congressman Anthony Weiner.
(Tara Mergener for CBS News)
Huma Abedin has been by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's side since 1996.
But Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann wants the Inspector General's office to investigate Abedin. Bachmann claims: "Deputy Chief of Staff, Huma Abedin, has three family members - her late father, her mother and her brother - connected to Muslim Brotherhood operatives and/or organizations. Her position affords her routine access to the secretary and to policy-making."
Bachmann says the State Department has made several decisions which she believes are favorable to the Muslim Brotherhood.
In a floor speech Wednesday, Senator John McCain called Abedin a loyal American.
"Huma Abedin represents what is best about America. These attacks have no logic, no basis, and no merit and they need to stop."
Congresswoman Bachmann found Abedin's alleged connections to the Muslim Brotherhood in a paper from the Center For Security Policy.
Senator McCain calls the report "scurrilous." "These sinister accusations rest solely on a few unspecified and unsubstantiated associations of members of Huma's family, none of which have been shown to harm or threaten the United States in any way."
Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), a practicing Muslim, believes Bachmann may have other motives.
"If you're not the right religion or the right background in some way in her judgment, then you're just suspicious."
Abedin is married to former Congressman Anthony Weiner.
(Tara Mergener for CBS News)
