Nation
Feds recorded 33,000 calls of NYT contributor charged with being an Iranian foreign agent
It doesn’t surprise me that there are Iranian sympathizers working as contributors at the New York Times. But I’m very concerned about the story of Times Contributor Kaveh Afrasiabi. He is facing federal criminal charges for allegedly being a foreign agent of Iran. We’ve written about his case beNew fore at SaraACarter.com. But there are some newly released facts that have really spiked my interest in this case.
I’m concerned about it on many levels. First and foremost, I’m worried that a possible foreign agent of Iran could have been brainwashing more Times liberal readers than we ever imagined. Secondly, I’m deeply troubled that the feds took 13 years to bring charges against Afrasiabi. According to reports, the federal agents literally recorded over 33,000 phone calls during those years, which means they were building a case against him for over a decade.
Afrasiabi is an opinion writer and the idea that the federal government could be listening into his calls for 13 years is really worrisome to me. I’m not saying Afrasiabi is innocent or guilty but I’m also on the phone quite a bit and many of my sources are foreign. It’s my job.
It makes me wonder how many writers, journalists and contributors may have their phones monitored if they are speaking to sources overseas. After reading so many stories about situations similar to Afrasiabi I’m just going to assume they are all being monitored, one way or another.
Granted we don’t know exactly what Afrasiabi’s calls were about. If he was an agent of Iran why wouldn’t they have brought charges against him in the first few years of listening to his phone calls.
According to the Department of Justice, “Afrasiabi allegedly sought to influence the American public and American policymakers for the benefit of his employer, the Iranian government, by disguising propaganda as objective policy analysis and expertise,” Acting U.S. Attorney DuCharme said.
Afrasiabi has a PhD and frequently publishes books and articles. He also appears on American television programs discussing foreign relations matters, particularly Iran’s relations with the United States, according to the Justice Department.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office now accuses him of pushing propaganda.
It’s all so slimy. But then again, Washington D.C. is a slimy town if you peel back all its pomp and circumstance.
I’m going to keep my eye on this story because in reality Afrasiabi could be anyone. What exactly did he do? Why did the feds listen to his calls for 13 years. It’s bizarre all the way around if you ask me.
Afrasiabi pleaded not guilty in February after being arrested at his Boston-area home, according to reports.
At an August 25 status hearing, a US attorney handling the case, Ian Richardson, said he was preparing to turn over 33,000 audio recordings of Afrasiabi. An August 27 letter said that in addition to the audio recordings, the government is turning over Internal Revenue Service, health insurance, and banking records. Afrasiabi told The Algemeiner in an email that the recordings are “the sum of all my phone calls over 13 years maybe even longer, I have better things to do than to listen to my own calls to my family, friends etc. A giant waste of time.”
The Allgemeiner
You can follow Sara A. Carter on Twitter @SaraCarterDC
Immigration
Former President Bill Clinton and Gov. Kathy Hochul Call for Changes to New York City’s “Right to Shelter Law”
In a surprising turn of events, former President Bill Clinton has joined forces with New York Governor Kathy Hochul in advocating for significant modifications to New York City’s long-standing “Right to Shelter Law.”
According to reports from Fox News, during an interview with radio host John Catsimatidis on 77 WABC radio’s “The Cats Roundtable” show, Clinton expressed his belief that the law, which mandates shelter for the homeless, should be revised given the current circumstances.
“Gov. [Kathy] Hochul thinks it should be modified, and it probably should under the circumstances,” Clinton remarked, acknowledging the need for change. He went on to assert that the existing law is fundamentally flawed, stating, “It’s broken. We need to fix it. It doesn’t make any sense.”
The “Right to Shelter Law” has been a fixture of New York City for over four decades and is aimed at ensuring that the homeless population has access to shelter. Moreover, New York City is often referred to as a sanctuary city, welcoming migrants and providing them with certain protections.
However, Clinton pointed out a specific concern related to this policy. He expressed his view that the city’s obligation to provide shelter extends to individuals who may not have work permits for up to six months after their arrival, raising questions about its practicality.
Furthermore, Clinton argued that migrants should have the opportunity to begin “paying their way” into American society through gainful employment and self-sufficiency.
“They ought to work,” Clinton asserted, emphasizing the importance of migrants entering the workforce, paying taxes, and supporting themselves economically. He noted that many migrants have no desire to rely on welfare assistance.
In addition to addressing the “Right to Shelter Law,” Clinton emphasized the role of immigrants in shoring up the American economy due to the nation’s low birth rate. He suggested that the United States should consider constructing more housing options near the border with Mexico to accommodate migrants, with the support of the Mexican government.
This approach, according to Clinton, would allow individuals to reside near the border while awaiting opportunities to find work and contribute positively to American society.
Clinton also acknowledged the political ramifications of the ongoing immigration crisis, acknowledging that it has been advantageous for Republicans. He attributed this to the inadequacies in the immigration system and a lack of sufficient border facilities.
The former president concluded by addressing the recent political losses suffered by Democrats in New York, attributing them in part to the perceived mishandling of the immigration issue. He stressed the need for his party to adopt a more “commonsense approach” to the challenges posed by migration.
The alignment of views between former President Bill Clinton and Governor Kathy Hochul on the need for changes to the “Right to Shelter Law” highlights the complexities and evolving dynamics surrounding immigration policy in the United States, particularly in major metropolitan areas like New York City.
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