
By BETHANY BLANKLEY | THE CENTER SQUARE
Of the billions of tax dollars spent by the U.S. Agency for International Development Office that are being questioned by the Trump administration, millions went to fund terrorism.
A multi-year investigation brought by the Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia reveals the scope of how funds were used in one recent terrorism-related case.
“The case represents one of the most significant diversions of USAID-funded humanitarian aid that USAID-OIG has investigated,” USAID’s Office of Inspector General said.
It involved a Syrian national, Mahmoud Al Hafyan, who was charged with illegally diverting more than $9 million of taxpayer money through USAID to armed combatant groups, including the Al-Nusrah Front (ANF), a designated foreign terrorist organization affiliated with al-Qaida in Iraq.
According to the indictment, Al Hafyan led a non-governmental organization (NGO) in Syria, managing 160 employees.
Since Syria’s civil war began in 2011, and through 2020, U.S. taxpayers funded more than $12 billion of USAID money to Syria intended for food and medical supplies that was supposed to be administered by United Nations agencies and NGOs.
The NGO that Al Hafyan led received $122 million over a three year period, diverting food kits meant for refugees to ANF commanders, according to the complaint. ANF, fighting to overthrow the Syrian government, was known for committing human rights atrocities, including conducting mass executions of civilians, suicide bombings and kidnappings.
Al Hafyan allegedly sold the food kits on the black market to the ANF commanders, falsifying documents to make it seem like refugees were receiving the food.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, USAID OIG, and the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division were involved in the case.
“This defendant not only defrauded the U.S. government, but he also gave the humanitarian aid he stole to a foreign terrorist organization,” U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves said in November. “While this foreign terrorist organization fought with the cruel al-Assad regime, the people who were supposed to receive the aid suffered.”
Some other examples of misuse of USAID funds prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia relate to a range of fraud schemes.
In one case, a former executive of a digital consulting firm in Delaware agreed to pay a $100,000 settlement to resolve allegations that he knowingly caused company employees to submit false claims to USAID in order to receive government contracts, overbill and charge for work that was never performed, according to a 2022 complaint.
In another case, a global health nonprofit organization based in San Diego agreed to pay nearly $550,000 to resolve allegations that it knowingly submitted false claims to USAID to receive grants to purportedly provide agricultural and other aid to developing countries.
In another case, the International Rescue Committee agreed to pay $6.9 million to settle allegations under the False Claims Act related to USAID-funded programming related to the civil war in Syria. The money IRC received was intended for humanitarian assistance but IRC staff participated in a kickback scheme with a Turkish supply ring involving contract bid rigging instead, according to the complaint.
In another case, a former NGO official was sentenced to 40 months in prison for paying bribes to NGO officers in exchange for sensitive procurement information related to NGO contracts partially funded by USAID. In this case, for five years, a Turkmenistan citizen coordinated a bid-rigging scheme, instructed employees to lie to law enforcement agents and destroyed emails related to the investigation, according to the complaint.
In another case, a former USAID deputy director and resident of Maryland pled guilty to charges related to a contract-steering scheme, conspiracy to defraud the United States and making false statements to law enforcement, according to the complaint.
I am not entirely sure anymore. And I know this comment will be over the top. Given what we know about the FBI involvements in the Jan 6. event and the CDC’s complicity in the Covid hoax, help me understand what exactly is a terrorist group? Can you say public sector unions? I knew you could.
Based on the Federal Register website …
‘https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies
There’s a total of 441 Guv’ment Agencies !!!
Surely, there’s opportunities for efficiencies to maximize. Recently, due in large part to Trump & Elon, the public discovered specific expenditures that their spending our tax dollars. Specifically, who is managing and providing oversight of this massive – largess of Guv’ment? Our senior Senator should be able to provide detail explanations and answers, as this out-of-control spending has happened on her watch! Maybe(???), it’s time to serve up “Divorce Papers” and terminate the relationship, as she is clearly out-of-touch and clearly providing no utility of responsible // reasonable representation!!!
I know Greg, Sebastian and Dog will be frothing at the mouth over this article.
I’m digging President Trump a whole lot right now.
I wonder how much USAID was providing to Greg Forkner, in particular?
Apparently, at least enough for a new computer every few months, and a new keyboard, I would guess, every week or so, at the rate he posts here.
Sadly, Forkner will only be given a new computer once a year now that his USAID funding is gone.
However, Hillary has an endless supply of $$ she hides. Greggypoo will continue to haunt us forever.
The best option now is to totally ignore him.
I am not opposed to US sending aid to other countries. Offering a carrot will often prevent the requirement to use a stick in the future.
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However, it is important, vital, essential, and absolutely required to ensure any funding we do send is not and cannot be used against the best interests of the United States. Funding terrorism in any form must be stopped, and even the accusation that a foreign nation (or proxy thereof) might use our funds for terrorism is enough to stop aid until proven otherwise. (No, leftists… innocent until proven guilty is not applicable to US foreign aid.)
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USAID has been tossing around taxpayer money to whomever had their hand out for whatever reason for too long. This was apparent ages ago, but no Federal Administration took the time to so much as look into it.
Well, it looks like Frank cman and Greg’s boy has gotten caught with his hand in a cookie jar
Greg Frank cman, how you like your dollars going for that? Oh you probably like it real well we should just taxyou more.
Your administration was breaking the law every turn and now it’s our turn to straighten out your mess.
Wow! I’m sure glad this is all coming out! Deep state swamp!
So Elon himself seems to be calling out neocon swamp rat Lindsey Graham for his role as a director of some apparently grifting sham of an operation, the “International Republican Institute”, a recipient of $130.7 million in hard earned taxpayers’ funds while musing about the legality of it all:
‘https://x.com/OcrazioCornPop/status/1886470568242720866
And wouldn’t you know it, the Chairman of that same swampy operation Graham hangs out with is evidently none other that Ohio’s very own neocon swamp rat Dan Sullivan…
‘https://www.iri.org/who-we-are/#h-board-of-directors
Go figure.
Much More information on this rogue agency will come out as we follow the money, and who benefited from this funding. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), just some expenditures:
Here are some instances of alleged waste and abuse by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as reported by various sources:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Initiatives:
$1.5 million to “advance diversity equity and inclusion in Serbia’s workplaces and business communities.”
$70,000 for the production of a “DEI musical” in Ireland.
LGBTQ+ Related Projects:
$47,000 for a “transgender opera” in Colombia.
$32,000 for a “transgender comic book” in Peru.
$2 million for sex changes and “LGBT activism” in Guatemala.
Environmental and Energy Projects:
$2.5 million for electric vehicles for Vietnam.
Tourism and Cultural Programs:
$6 million to fund tourism in Egypt.
Support for Non-Profits with Controversial Ties:
Hundreds of thousands of dollars for a non-profit linked to designated terrorist organizations, even after an investigation was launched by an inspector general.
Health and Research Funding:
Millions to EcoHealth Alliance, which was involved in research at the Wuhan lab.
Funding for “personalized” contraceptives in developing countries.
Aid to Conflict Zones:
“Hundreds of thousands of meals that went to al Qaeda-affiliated fighters in Syria.”
Funding the BBC and Politico, 9 of 10 media outlets in the Ukraine….on and on!
And how much got back to the politicians and Biden’s 10%?
The light is shining brightly on what
We the people have suspected for decades now! Government waste and abuse of tax payers!
We the people need laws (plural) to the affect
Any government employee/ politician caught defrauding tax payers, through kick backs or other enrichment schemes, is subject to forfeiture of Al pension and benefits !
Government and corruption need separation!
Constant independent oversight!
We’ve accepted this too long! ! !
Generations !!!
Material Support to Terrorists (18 U.S. Code § 2339A & 2339B): This statute makes it illegal to provide material support or resources to designated foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs). Material support can include weapons, money, training, personnel, and more.
USAID broke this law. Where are the arrest? Where is the accountability?
Violations of Campaign Finance Laws They funded fake news to attack The American people with propaganda and misinformation.
The Time for the Republican Fast and Furious We must go to the grand jury Fast and then prosecute Them Furiously! If they do not get charged there is no Republic! There can not be a two teer justice system in America.
We need some arrest and convictions.
I”M sure it’s coming “down the line” we’re having to wait and see on what eventuaally happens.I’m sure, that in the coming months alot of people will be out of a job, when all the facts are collected.. Even the Supreme Court will get into this mess, because Trump’s and Elon search has awakened just to who is involved..It’s JUST BROKEN and it takes time these days to complete a complete investigation. And hoping the guilty ones will be in “Gitmo”.
Trillions have flowed out of this country under various feel good schemes such as this. There’s no accountability so it’s one huge money laundering scheme. Wonder why the Dems are screaming over DOGE? The cash cow is being put out to pasture, it will no longer be endlessly milked.
NO! Trillions?? The money for these organizations is much, much more than Humanitarian. It helps to Keep American safe and keeps out Adversaries influence such as; China. Gov’t needs to do a Much Better Job of explaining to the public Why they fund some of their endeavors. BTW; These were programs voted by both Republicans & Democrats!
Elon has been Lying! America Fights Against Terrorism not funds it. The Terrorist is Elon who was NOT Elected or sanctioned by Congress and Has access to personal data including Your Social Security numbers, names, addresses and IRS, and more ! We are living in a Dictatorship!! “Don’t Tread on Me”.
Surely this is sarcasm, right?
No, she means it. Her TDS is so severe, all she can do is post lies and rants on the web.
The sad part about people like Teri is that no matter how many facts you present them, they are still deeply rooted in their cult that Hates Trump. Nothing can pry that from their brains.
Teri; there has to be a certain point in your life that you have to let go of your hate.
It is amazing that you are more outraged about Elon Musk exposing this waste of taxpayer (your) dollars than you are at the politicians that wasted your money.
And we are all complicit because we’ve been paying our taxes diligently like the law abiding citizens we are.
‘https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oL7TNvhHeg8
Now that DOGE has stopped these payments, the next step is to find the guilty parties, give them a fair trial and then set them up in a cozy cell in a federal penitentiary. A real one with real bars and concrete floors, not some useless country club facility.
Absolutely! Paging Pam Bondi….
Rollo- Like this one, which has been offered to President Trump and he has accepted.:
‘https://x.com/CNN/status/1857168610852000247?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1886763993890496836%7Ctwgr%5E9f8dd05ab2f643888f3ace9abfed6efea262add5%7Ctwcon%5Es3_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.breitbart.com%2Ft%2Fassets%2Fhtml%2Ftweet-4.html1886763993890496836
Anybody shocked by this article is either incredibly naive or has been hiding under a rock for the last 50 years. Will there be any fallout? Never has been any before. Let us pray that the new administration can actually follow through on their promises and put an end to these massive taxpayer ripoffs so we can start helping our own people right here. And yes, we need to root out the coruption that takes place here at home too.
Yes, it’s time to put the fear into these politicians who have been ripping us off for decades. We need to see some serious jail time in real jails.
Pam Bondi was just confirmed so I’m sure in time when they have all the evidence in hand the indictments will come. First they had to turn off the $$$ spigot and now they can follow the $$$ trail. Hope everyone is stocked up on popcorn!
Don’t go get a burger at Wendy’s in Los Anchorage…
You might get shot dead…oops…wrong address…
Just saw something the other day, I have not personally confirmed it.
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Apparently, USAID was providing NGOs $600M a month to aid illegal immigrants. Literally, a US taxpayer funded agency was paying to help illegal aliens enter the US.
Names! Who in USAID, specifically, designed and approved each of these “grants”? Were they career corrupticrats who had been doing this stuff on behalf of the deep state all along, or were they recently slipped into positions of authority when Brandon took over in 2021? Was there someone in the WH (we know who it could not have been) who masterminded the whole thing – like Valerie Jarrett did for Barack?
I just read that Samantha Powers was Brandon’s head of USAID. No surprise there. She was one of Rasputina’s (Jarrett’s) protégés – along with Susan Rice – under Obama.
In the end these people ALWAYS fall on their own swords.
This might help those who want to do the research…
‘https://x.com/DataRepublican/status/1887191624750670294
Too funny!! USAID was funding a militant terrorist outfit rebranded as an NGO! And there are still retards out there defending USAID For the low IQ pundits out there, the acronym USAID, does not mean United States aid.
USAID means United States Agency for International Development or, to put it more succinctly, a CIA/State Department slush fund to fuel NGOs involved in everything from regime change wars to transgender culture studies.