[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 5, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H1700-H1701]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       FARRAKHAN'S MIDDLE EAST TRIP CHALLENGES NATIONAL SECURITY

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Barr] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BARR of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, recently a gentleman named Louis 
Farrakhan toured over a dozen African and Middle Eastern countries, 
including Libya, Nigeria, Iraq, and Iran. During Mr. Farrakhan's trips 
abroad, and specifically during his trip to Libya, Libyan strong man 
and known terrorist Mu'ammar Qadhafi pledged $1 billion to Mr. 
Farrakhan's Nation of Islam to be used here in this country to, I 
believe, improperly influence the American political system.
  By the pledges and statements made by strong man Qadhafi, the 
following laws may have been broken, and further may have been broken 
by Mr. Farrakhan himself: the Foreign Agents Registration Act; the 
Libyan sanctions regulations; restrictions on campaign contributions 
and expenditures by foreign nationals; passport travel restrictions; 
and the Logan Act.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a direct challenge to the national security and 
national interest of the United States of America and her people. Mr. 
Qadhafi has himself stated that this is one way to infiltrate America. 
Moslems from abroad, through these various political organizations, are 
calling to unite with those in this country in subversion of the U.S. 
Government and its governmental systems.
  Mr. Speaker, further, Iranian Prime Minister Rafsanjani has stated 
regarding Mr. Farrakhan's visit to his country, also on the list of 
terrorist nations, ``Let our enemies call this export of revolution. We 
do not fear this.''
  Congress must hold hearings and the appropriate law enforcement 
agencies in the executive branch must investigate these matters. We 
cannot turn a blind eye to blatant disregard of our Nation's laws and 
national interests.
  Questions must be answered as to the legality of Mr. Farrakhan's 
actions, and this administration's apparent unwillingness to pursue Mr. 
Farrakhan for an explanation of his actions must not be allowed to lie.
  Did this administration send a letter to Farrakhan stating it was 
illegal to travel to certain of these nations? What steps has this 
administration taken, if any, to investigate possible violations of 
U.S. law? Why did this administration allow Mr. Farrakhan to reenter 
the United States, knowing of his activities and statements abroad, 
without even checking his passport for a Libyan stamp?
  Mr. Speaker, I have called for hearings, as have others. I have 
written to Secretary of State Warren Christopher and Attorney General 
Janet Reno calling for an immediate and in-depth review of these 
matters.
  Mr. Speaker, I include the following correspondence for the Record:


[[Page H1701]]


                                    Congress of the United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                Washington, DC, February 14, 1996.
     Hon. Warren Christopher,
     U.S. Department of State,
     Washington, DC.
     Re Louis Farrakhan's Trip to Iran and Libya
       Dear Mr. Secretary: I write to urge you as the Secretary of 
     State to investigate Louis Farrakhan's recent trips to Libya 
     and Iran, which are listed on the United States' terrorist 
     list for their roles in state sponsored terrorism. By 
     engaging in such travel, it is my understanding that Mr. 
     Farrakhan may have violated several federal statutes, 
     including the Foreign Agents Registration Act, various 
     passport travel restrictions, sanctions regulations and the 
     Logan Act.
       An investigation by your department is critical to 
     determine the means by which Mr. Farrakhan traveled to Libya 
     and Iran, what economic contributions he may have made to 
     these countries, whether there exists any financial 
     relationship between these terrorist governments and Louis 
     Farrakhan's Nation of Islam, and answers to other relevant 
     questions.
       It is unconscionable and unacceptable for our government to 
     stand idly by, while federal laws may have been disregarded 
     with impunity by this man.
       I respectfully urge your department to take whatever action 
     is necessary, including comprehensive investigations to fully 
     disclose Louis Farrakhan's travels and interaction with the 
     terrorist regimes in Libya and Iran.
       Thank you for your consideration and cooperation in this 
     matter, and I look forward to working with you in this 
     regard.
       With kind regards, I am,
           Very truly yours,
                                                         Bob Barr,
     Member of Congress.
                                                                    ____

                                    Congress of The United States,


                                     House of Representatives,

                                Washington, DC, February 14, 1996.
     Hon. Janet Reno, 
     Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC.
     Re Louis Farrakhan's trip to Iran and Libya.
       Dear Attorney General Reno: I write to urge you as Attorney 
     General of the United States to, as soon as possible, 
     investigate Louis Farrakhan's recently trips to Libya and 
     Iran, which are listed on the United States' terrorist list 
     for their roles in state-sponsored terrorism. By engaging in 
     such travel, it is my understanding that Mr. Farrakhan may 
     have violated several federal statutes, including the Foreign 
     Agents Registration Act, various passport travel 
     restrictions, sanctions regulations, and the Logan Act.
       An investigation by your department is critical to 
     determine the means by which Mr. Farrakhan traveled to Libya 
     and Iran, what economic contributions he may have made to 
     these countries, whether there exists any financial 
     relationship between these terrorist governments and Louis 
     Farrakhan's Nation of Islam, and answers to other relevant 
     questions.
       It is unconscionable and unacceptable for our government to 
     stand idly by, while federal laws may have been disregarded 
     with impunity by this man.
       I respectfully urge your office to take whatever action is 
     necessary, including comprehensive investigations to fully 
     disclose Louis Farrakhan's travels and interaction with the 
     terrorist regimes in Libya and Iran.
       Thank you for your consideration and cooperation in this 
     matter, and I look forward to working with you in this 
     regard.
       With kind regards, I am,
           Very truly yours,
                                                         Bob Barr,
                                               Member of Congress.

  Mr. Speaker, to say that Mr. Farrakhan is, quote, cavorting with 
dictators, close quote, as one presidential spokesman initially said, 
is not enough. Our laws should be the rule of the land, not political 
interests of the moment.
  Even beyond, Mr. Speaker, the immediate questions about whether Mr. 
Farrakhan has violated U.S. laws, looms the broader issue of whether 
U.S. laws purporting to guard against U.S. citizens conspiring to work 
against U.S. national security interests have any meaning whatsoever. 
Do our laws, which prevent U.S. citizens from serving as conduits for 
foreign money being interjected into the U.S. political system, have 
any meaning or not?
  These fundamental and basic questions about the scope and strength 
and rule of U.S. laws guarding our national security and guarding the 
integrity of our political system must be addressed. We must have the 
backbone to ask these questions through appropriate congressional 
hearings and through appropriate law enforcement review by the 
Department of Justice.

                          ____________________