Huma Abedin is a Muslim Brotherhood agent
| Huma Abedin is a Muslim Brotherhood agent | |
|---|---|
| UNSUPPORTED | |
| "Huma Abedin, Hillary Clinton's longtime aide, is tied to the Muslim Brotherhood and helped it infiltrate the US government." | |
| Domain | Religion & Belief |
| Tactic | Conspiracy Theory |
| Era | Current |
| First seen | 2012 |
| Origin | A June 2012 letter from five Republican members of Congress to the State Department inspector general |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-29 |
| Further reading: books on Religion & Belief | |
In June 2012, five House Republicans, including Michele Bachmann, wrote to the State Department's inspector general suggesting that Huma Abedin, a top aide to Secretary Hillary Clinton, had family ties to the Muslim Brotherhood that posed a security risk. The claim resurfaced in 2016.
The letter offered no evidence of wrongdoing by Abedin and was rejected by leaders of the members' own party.
What the evidence shows
- The basis. The letter pointed to relatives' academic and professional associations, mostly involving her late father and her mother, an academic in Saudi Arabia. It did not allege any act by Abedin.
- Republican rebuke. Senator John McCain said on the Senate floor on July 18, 2012, that the accusations were "an unwarranted and unfounded attack on an honorable citizen." House Speaker John Boehner and others also criticized the letter.
- Security clearance. Abedin held a security clearance throughout her State Department service. Later investigations into Clinton's emails examined her handling of records but did not find any foreign allegiance.
Why it matters
Guilt by association based on relatives' ties and religion is a classic smear technique. It was rejected at the time by senior members of the accusers' own party.
Sources
- Letter from Reps. Michele Bachmann, Trent Franks, Louie Gohmert, Thomas Rooney and Lynn Westmoreland to the State Department Inspector General, June 13, 2012.
- Senator John McCain, remarks on the Senate floor, July 18, 2012, Congressional Record.
- The Washington Post, "McCain defends Clinton aide Huma Abedin," July 18, 2012.