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Alleged Iranian 'Front' Represented by Mukasey Law Firm
September 25, 2007 3:12 PM
For more than 25 years, U.S. intelligence and law enforcement authorities say they have suspected the New York-based Alavi Foundation is a "front" for Iranian espionage and anti-American activities.
For more than 25 years, court records show the foundation has been publicly defended and represented by the New York law firm where attorney-general nominee Michael Mukasey is a partner: Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP.
The foundation says the firm continues to represent it.
Mukasey personally handled at least one matter in court for the foundation.
That case, a real estate dispute, began in 1981 when reports first surfaced that the foundation, originally set up by the Shah, had been taken over by the new Ayatollah and the Islamic Republic of Iran. Mukasey took it to trial in 1984.
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The firm insists the foundation has no link to Iran's government.
"I think we've had a relationship that goes back 20 or so odd years with this foundation. This foundation has made all appropriate filings...since we've represented the foundation," said John Winter, a partner at Patterson Belknap. "The foundation is transparent...in accordance with the law. It is not an alter ego or a front for the Iranian government nor is it controlled by the government of Iran."
The case handled by Mukasey was settled in 1984, two years after the foundation was described in the New York Times as being controlled by the government of Iran.
More recently, the Alavi Foundation was described four years ago by New York Police Department intelligence chief David Cohen, a former CIA official, as "totally controlled by the government of Iran."
"The Alavi Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization ostensibly run by an independent board of directors but totally controlled by the government of Iran," Cohen said in the affidavit, filed in connection with a request by the police department to expand surveillance powers. "The foundation funds a variety of anti-American causes, including the four Islamic education centers it owns in New York, Maryland, Texas and California...Mosques funded by Alavi have organizations which support Hezbollah and Hamas."
A 2003 Washington Post story said the foundation was also suspected of obtaining "data about U.S. technology" in violation of the U.S. embargo imposed on Iran following the hostage crisis of 1979-81.
U.S. law enforcement and intelligence officials tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com that the Alavi Foundation continues to be under investigation and is closely monitored as a "front" for Iran. No criminal charges have ever been brought against the foundation.
"And as I said, five different courts have looked at the allegations," Winter said. "In several of the cases, the plaintiffs have relied on affidavits [from former intelligence or law enforcement officers]...and those allegations have never been substantiated."
The foundation controls a 36-story Fifth Avenue office building in New York.
According to its 2006 IRS filing, the foundation has more than $85 million in assets, including $6.8 million in cash. It says it distributed more than $4 million for educational and religious programs across the United States.
A person who answered the phone at the foundation said its president, Farshid Jahedi, had "no comment," and referred all calls to Patterson Belknap.
Mukasey left Patterson Belknap in 1988 to become a federal judge and rejoined the firm last year.
A White House spokesperson said, "Judge Mukasey hasn't performed any legal work for the foundation in more than 20 years. Any inference that he would be associated with anything improper is irresponsible."
The firm concurred.
"Judge Mukasey has not been involved in the representation of the foundation since that time," Winter said.
Asked if Mukasey would recuse himself as attorney general from decisions involving the investigation of the Alavi Foundation, the spokesperson said, "As Judge Mukasey's long record of personal and professional integrity would suggest, he will take the most ethically appropriate action after discussions with government counsel."
This post has been updated.
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September 25, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (36)
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Considering the Bush family business '2 degrees of separation' (via Poppy, the Carlyle Group & Osama's brother) with Osama, no one should be surprised by this latest 'cross pollination'!
15 of the 911 hijackers come from Saudi Arabia, none from Iraq, but we attack & destroy Iraq! And the logic in this move is......WHAT?!
It was good for business...pure, simple & very evil.
Posted by: kladinvt | Sep 25, 2007 7:56:51 PM
This world is just too damn crazy for me!
Posted by: White Mountain | Sep 25, 2007 8:20:45 PM
**BIG YAWN**
Next story, please....
Posted by: Ryan | Sep 25, 2007 8:33:47 PM
FidoNY: Your post is funny. Hello, but all the hate media is right wing. Lets see, FOX 24/7 is all liberal bashing, Sean, Rush, Savitch, O'Reilly et.al. I love the act that you guys can't take responsibility for anything. Just yesterday the right was screaming that Columbia was hosting Ahmedinejad but it is ok for our next AG to defend him. Only because he is Republican...Hypocrits
Posted by: rewire1 | Sep 25, 2007 8:46:36 PM
Fidony: With the mounting problems with this administration, including this attempt at nominating an AG that defends a possible terrorist network, how can you rationally defend him? Like how he's vetoed the child healthcare initative of $35 billion, but has spent over a trillion in Iraq, instead of fighting OBL in Afganistan. WHY DO YOU SUPPORT THIS MAN???? WHY DO YOU HAVE BLINDERS ON???? You can call it "hate", but these are actual issues as to why we do not like Bush.
Posted by: moderateistheway | Sep 25, 2007 11:18:49 PM
Fidony: You are backing bush with blinders on. You might call it "hate" but we are merely pointing out specific issues in which Bush has managed to screw things up-such as taking resources away from Afganistan where the real terrorists were-cause now OBL in alive and well, and those camps have spread all over the place. He really messed that up, not to mention the trillion dollars spent in Iraq with no end in sight, while threatening to veto a $35 billion bill (1 week in Iraq worth) to help fund children's healthcare for lower middle income American families.
Posted by: moderateistheway | Sep 25, 2007 11:51:54 PM
To defeat the enemy, you have to understand the enemy and apparently no law firm understands the enemy better than Mukasey's firm. Given the administration's vast ability to ignore the Constitution, violating attorney-client privilege will be a slam dunk and should help the war effort by providing a windfall of information. Congratulations to the administration on another shrewd move!
Posted by: justathought | Sep 26, 2007 12:57:12 AM
Dear all,
You are welcome to our Islamic centers and see there is nothing about any organizations out side of US. We are groups of Muslim who work hard and respect the law of land and keeping our religion here. Please don’t mixed up your agenda with our religion here.
This is very shameful that you use every moment to connect Muslim to ant-America !!!
September 11 didn’t have anything with Iranian !! yes,, so why you like to press Iranian?
Why don’t you go to real bad guys in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan?
You should be shame yourself.
Reza
Posted by: reza | Sep 26, 2007 1:21:08 AM
What's everybody complaining about? So what if this guy gets paid to represent terrorists? I think we all can agree that it's a given Bush will appoint a Republican to fill the AG vacancy. Do you honestly think he's going to find one that's honest, uncorrupted, or even heterosexual? DREAM ON.
Posted by: wilder5121 | Sep 26, 2007 3:35:24 AM
More Bush and Republican ties to terrorism and 9/11. No wonder there are conspiricy theories.
Posted by: Tammy Stickers | Sep 26, 2007 9:05:47 AM
I listened to the enemy on right wing wacko radio just exactly to keep up with the tactics of the enemy. I suppose at one time you hummed along with HUSH BIMBO, BILE OHREALLY, SHUN HANNITY, and the nervous little twitch, mikey the savage, among others, and I was there with you listening to their failed tactics and longing for the day of their fruition. We are near that day,
Posted by: daddy | Sep 26, 2007 9:42:47 AM
I think you need to catch up on the news that has been pouring out of the international press that has not landed here at home, and wonder why. Truth and Justice wears no blinders, Jazz, but sycophantic enableism(new word?) walks around with eyes closed and ears shut and often, mouth flapping.
Posted by: daddy | Sep 26, 2007 9:48:57 AM
Dear justathought: New York was bombed by people just living in the US. I believe they were Muslim. Many people know where Bin Ladin is, but they remain silent. Many people who were in the US on 9/11 probably knew about the plot but didn't say anything. Many people who live in the US today probably know who is part of a terrorist cell, but they don't say anything. I treat people fairly, no matter who they are, but I have to draw the line some where. There are too many secrets among the Arab populace. All we can do is unearth them where ever possible. It might do the Arab community in the US good if we had more terrorist cells exposed. We're all on the outside trying to look in. I appreciate your invitation to visit your Islamic centers. I have great respect for the TRUE Muslim practices. Here in the US, criminals are treated like criminals and our laws do not discriminate based on race, religion, sex, etc., in that regard.
Posted by: theswan | Sep 26, 2007 10:20:22 AM
Isn't that the colonel dude from M*A*S*H?
Posted by: Jazz | Sep 26, 2007 2:08:07 PM
Welll welll… as if this isn’t a surprise.. the dirt diggers have gotten a tid bit of information to blow of proportion and help the Bush basher’s degrade another person with HATE talk and disparage his reputation…..... so basically what the libs are saying, any lawyer who has represented somebody they don’t like, or represented somebody they THINK may have done something wrong, or represented a actual criminal, is just as guilty of that crime......... so based on the LIB view… a lot of lawyers cant work for the Government…. Including Billy Boy Clinton and Billary…I’m sure there will be more dirt to follow… this is one thing the MEDIA is really good at… tearing down people…I think the Media is right up there with Lawyers on the SCUM meter
Posted by: FidoNY | Sep 26, 2007 8:35:23 PM
Enough is enough. Can't somebody or some entity do some digging and get some indictments on these neo-cons? They have hijacked our country and they should be tried and put away for treason.
Posted by: bob crawford | Sep 27, 2007 3:42:44 PM
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