President Trump adviser Rudy Giuliani and Cabinet member Elaine Chao gave paid speeches to a “cult-like” Iranian group that killed Americans before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to a report on Sunday.
Giuliani, the former mayor, was paid an unknown amount to speak to the political arm of Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, which the State Department previously called a terrorist group, the Associated Press reported.
Elaine Chao, who was confirmed last week as Trump’s transportation secretary and is the husband of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, was paid $50,000 for a five minute speech to the group.
The news service said although there was nothing to prevent the paid speeches, the relationship raises questions about what kind of influence the group may have in the White House.
“The Mujahedeen have backed the winning horse. They are going to have some at least entree into the administration,” the Associated Press quoted Ervand Abrahamian, a professor at the City University of New York.
Giuliani did not respond to the Associated Press for comment.
The Department of Transportation said Chao has spoke out about democracy and women’s right in the Middle East but “has not spoken to MEK events.”
The statement also said she gave speeches along other members of Congress, governors, prime ministers, generals and former FBI Directors.
MEK, formed in 1965 by radicalized university students, has been implicated in the death of several Americans, including US Army Lt. Col. Lewis L. Hawkins, who was killed in 1973 by MEK assailants wearing motorcycle helmets as home to work in Tehran.
The group also supported Iran’s Islamic Revolution and the US Embassy takeover in Tehran.
MEK left Iran after falling afoul of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and joined forces with former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, the AP reported.
Our editors found this article on this site using Google and regenerated it for our readers.
