Wasserman Schultz sees result as debunking conspiracy claims
Just a month ago, President Donald Trump implored his Justice Department not to let Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz “off the hook.”
Fueled by conservative media, conspiracy theories circulated online that read like a page-turning spy thriller. A Pakistani-American congressional technology staffer working for Democratic lawmakers had stolen state secrets — all while being protected by Wasserman Schultz, they claimed.
But an 18-month federal investigation came to a different conclusion, according to a plea agreement released Tuesday.
No evidence was uncovered that supported claims Imran Awan had “improperly accessed or transferred government information, including classified or sensitive information,” prosecutors wrote. Awan, 38, pleaded guilty to an offense unrelated to his work on Capitol Hill — making false statements on a bank loan application.
A Wasserman Schultz spokesman and Awan’s lawyer seized on the agreement to praise the judicial system’s role in debunking what they say is false information.
“We rely on our justice system to produce a fair result, after a considered, objective review,” David Damron, a Wasserman Schultz spokesman, said Tuesday in a statement. “That role is even more important at a time when Donald Trump and his allies spread dangerous distortions with the intent of falsely smearing his political opponents.”
Investigators interviewed about 40 witnesses, seized the House Democratic Caucus server, examined computer systems and reviewed electronic communications as part of their investigation, according to the plea agreement.
The president helped to spur reports on the case through his social media messaging. In June, Trump wrote on Twitter, “Our Justice Department must not let Awan & Debbie Wasserman Schultz off the hook. The Democrat I.T. scandal is a key to much of the corruption we see today. They want to make a ‘plea deal’ to hide what is on their Server. Where is Server? Really bad!” Trump once called Awan a “Pakistani mystery man.”
Wasserman Schultz, who lives in Weston, defended her decision-making in an exclusive interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel last year.
“I believe that I did the right thing, and I would do it again,” Wasserman Schultz said then.
Wasserman Schultz employed Awan until he was arrested on a bank fraud charge while trying to leave the country on July 24 at Dulles International Airport near Washington. The congresswoman fired him after the criminal charges were filed, but she kept him on the payroll for months longer than other members of Congress. Those representatives dismissed Awan when it was revealed in February 2017 that he was under investigation.
Wasserman Schultz said her office worked to have Awan moved to a different position. She said she had concerns he had been put under scrutiny because of his religious faith. Awan is Muslim. As part of the plea agreement, prosecutors agreed to drop charges against Awan’s wife, Hina Alvi. Awan faces up to six months in prison. A sentencing hearing is set for Aug. 21.
Staff writer Anthony Man contributed to this report.