Ex-IT staffer reaches plea deal that debunks Trump theories
WASHINGTON >> Federal prosecutors concluded an 18-month investigation into a former congressional technology staffer on Tuesday by publicly debunking allegations — promoted by conservative media and President Donald Trump — suggesting he was a Pakistani operative who stole government secrets with cover from House Democrats.
As part of an agreement with prosecutors, Imran Awan pleaded guilty to a relatively minor offense unrelated to his work on Capitol Hill: making a false statement on a bank loan application. U.S. prosecutors said they would not recommend jail time.
But the agreement included an unusual passage that described the scope of the investigation and cleared Awan of a litany of conspiracy theories promulgated on Internet blogs, picked up by rightleaning news sites, and fanned by Trump on Twitter.
“The Government has uncovered no evidence that your client violated federal law with respect to the House computer systems,” including stealing equipment or illegally accessing or transferring information, including sensitive or classified information, prosecutors wrote in an 11-page plea agreement dated and signed Tuesday.
Federal prosecutors described in the agreement a “thorough investigation” that included forensic analysis of computer equipment and other devices, logon and usage data and interviews with about 40 witnesses. Awan and four of his associates, including family members, worked as IT specialists
for dozens of Democratic lawmakers until they were banned from the computer network in February 2017 for allegedly violating House security rules. The ensuing investigation attracted aggressive coverage by conservative media outlets — led by the Daily Caller — and prompted calls from Trump to prosecute Awan, whom the president referred to in one tweet as the “Pakistani mystery man.”
The case has highlighted Trump’s willingness to lobby for specific outcomes of federal criminal investigations and to suggest a cover-up by his own Department of Justice. Trump also attempted to tie Awan to the hacking of the Democratic National Committee server — a breach that intelligence agencies have concluded was directed by Russia.
“Our Justice Department must not let Awan & Debbie Wasserman Schultz off the hook,” he tweeted last month mentioning the Florida Democrat and onetime chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, after a court filing indicated prosecutors were in plea negotiations. “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!”
Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the District of Columbia did not mention Trump or any media publications by name in the agreement.
But the agreement included an exhaustive list of “public allegations” that prosecutors investigated and shot down, including that investigators took custody of the House Democratic server.
“Particularly, the Government has found no evidence that your client illegally removed House data from the House network or from House Members’ offices, stole the House Democratic Caucus Server, stole or destroyed House information technology equipment, or improperly accessed or transferred government information, including classified or sensitive information.”
The office that conducted the investigation is led by Trump-nominated U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu. Awan was released from electronic monitoring and will be free pending his sentencing Aug. 21, U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan ordered after accepting Awan’s plea.