UMVA has learned that a top Republican lawmaker is seeking a full investigation into a Democratic colleague's ties to the mastermind behind the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, a connection that has sparked intense controversy in the lead-up to New Jersey's midterm elections.
Dr. Adam Hisham Hamawy, a veteran combat plastic surgeon, won a 12-way Democratic primary for a Central Jersey seat and now faces perennial candidate Prof. Gregg Mele in November. However, his ties to Omar Abdel-Rahman, also known as the "Blind Sheikh," have raised serious concerns among lawmakers and critics.
Rep. Michael Lawler, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Middle East Subcommittee, expressed alarm about Hamawy's associations and vowed to push for a probe if he is elected in November. Lawler described Hamawy's resume as disqualifying for someone who would have access to sensitive national security information.
Hamawy's connections to Abdel-Rahman are deeply troubling, according to critics. He served as a defense witness for the Blind Sheikh and volunteered in Bosnia with an organization the U.S. Treasury designated as a financier of terrorism. Lawler questioned Hamawy's fitness to serve in Congress and be privy to sensitive information.
The controversy surrounding Hamawy's ties to Abdel-Rahman and other extremist groups has sparked a heated debate. Hamawy has blamed Islamophobia for some of the criticism, while his campaign has pointed to his military service and allies like Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who credited him with saving her life on the battlefield.
However, the prosecutor who led the U.S. government's case against Abdel-Rahman noted that Hamawy voluntarily testified in defense of the Blind Sheikh, greeting him with the Muslim greeting of Salaam Alaykum and suggesting personal familiarity. This has raised concerns about Hamawy's judgment and ability to serve in a sensitive role.
Neighboring Congressman Josh Gottheimer, a Democrat from North Jersey, has also expressed serious questions and deep concerns about Hamawy's associations with terrorist organizations and leaders who have attacked America. Like Lawler, Gottheimer believes Hamawy must answer to the people of the Garden State about his connections.
As the midterm elections approach, the scrutiny on Hamawy's ties to extremist groups is likely to intensify. The American people deserve the truth about his associations and fitness to serve in Congress, and lawmakers like Lawler and Gottheimer are determined to ensure that the facts are revealed.
