Why isn’t Biden requiring Al Jazeera to register as a foreign agent for Qatar
Is Washington truly concerned about the threats of foreign influence to America, or is it more focused on politics? Are they selectively pursuing claims of such threats or even weaponizing those claims to target domestic adversaries?
The Biden Justice Department’s apparent reluctance to enforce the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) and its refusal to address concerns regarding a specific Middle Eastern media outlet suggests that politics may be at play.
In September 2020, the Trump DOJ informed AJ+, a left-wing, millennial-targeting news platform backed by Qatar, that it was required to register as a foreign agent. The DOJ argued that AJ+ engaged in “political activities” on behalf of the emirate and acted as a “publicity agent” for Qatar. Despite this, the DOJ has failed to enforce the law and AJ+ has not registered as a foreign agent.
Multiple bipartisan letters from Congress have called for action against Al Jazeera, detailing its support for Hamas and Hezbollah, antisemitism, and anti-Americanism. Yet, the DOJ has remained unresponsive.
Efforts to uncover the truth have been made by nonprofit government watchdog Empower Oversight and the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee. They have sued the DOJ and opened a probe, respectively, demanding transparency and the release of relevant documents. However, the DOJ has yet to fully comply.
Attempting Oversight
Empower Oversight has issued a new FOIA request for all communications between the DOJ’s National Security Division and representatives of Al Jazeera, its affiliates, or the Qatari government regarding FARA since 2018. The House Oversight Committee is also pushing for answers.
The response from the DOJ will reveal the administration’s priorities and whether it is protecting Qatar by shielding Al Jazeera.
Qatar’s Aims
Qatar has been executing a multibillion-dollar influence campaign in the United States, aiming to capture key sectors of American society. Despite its support for terrorist groups and close ties with Iran, the Biden administration has designated Qatar as a major non-NATO ally and relied on it for mediation with adversaries.
Is the Biden DOJ’s unwillingness to enforce FARA against Al Jazeera part of this appeasement?
Biden’s Posture
The Biden administration has praised Qatar for facilitating negotiations between Hamas and Israel, despite Qatar’s support for jihadist and anti-Western groups. The DOJ’s failure to enforce FARA may be indicative of a broader issue within our political system, where foreign influence is used as a pretext to target dissenting voices and protect those in power.
The DOJ’s actions, or lack thereof, raise questions about the prevalence of politics in its decision-making process and its commitment to addressing foreign influence threats.
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Are the actions of the Biden DOJ in enforcing FARA selectively targeting claims of foreign influence, potentially using them as a political weapon?
He Biden administration in an attempt to force the enforcement of FARA and the registration of AJ+ as a foreign agent. However, the Biden DOJ has been fighting these efforts, claiming that AJ+ does not meet the criteria for registration. This has raised concerns about whether the DOJ is selectively pursuing claims of foreign influence and using them as a political weapon.
The Foreign Agent Registration Act was enacted in 1938 and requires individuals and organizations that act as agents of foreign principals in a political or quasi-political capacity to disclose their relationship with the foreign principal. The purpose of the act is to provide transparency and ensure that the American public is aware of any foreign influence in domestic political activities.
In the case of AJ+, there is evidence to suggest that they engage in political activities on behalf of Qatar, a foreign principal. The Trump DOJ argued that AJ+ acted as a publicity agent for Qatar and engaged in political activities. However, the Biden DOJ has chosen not to enforce the law and allow AJ+ to continue operating without registering as a foreign agent.
This raises questions about the motivations behind the Biden administration’s actions. Is the DOJ truly concerned about the threats of foreign influence to America, or are they more focused on political considerations? By refusing to enforce the law and allowing AJ+ to operate without registering, the DOJ may be prioritizing politics over national security.
Furthermore, the bipartisan letters from Congress detailing AJ+’s support for Hamas and Hezbollah, as well as their antisemitic and anti-American views, should be cause for concern. These allegations should warrant further investigation and enforcement of FARA. Yet, the DOJ remains unresponsive and unwilling to take action.
Nonprofit government watchdog Empower Oversight and the Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee have taken legal action against the Biden administration to force the enforcement of FARA and the registration of AJ+ as a foreign agent. These efforts to uncover the truth and hold the DOJ accountable are essential in preserving the integrity of our political system.
In conclusion, the Biden administration’s apparent reluctance to enforce FARA and address concerns regarding AJ+ as a foreign agent raises questions about their true motivations. It is important for the DOJ to prioritize national security over politics and ensure that foreign influence is properly disclosed and regulated. The efforts by Empower Oversight and the House Oversight Committee to hold the administration accountable are critical in maintaining transparency and protecting the interests of the American people.
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