Below is just a small example of the money spent by Gulen Lobbying front groups: Council of Turkic American Associations, Istanbul Center, Maryland institute for Dialogue, Rumi Forum, Pacifica Institute and maniy many more. This is all public record that must be reported by members of Congress. The amount of trips, awards to these politicians is staggering, we could feed many poor families in Turkey with this. However, as many would say it is American money they are using via taxes intended for public education siphoned off and money laundered through their various front groups. Some politicians are very naive about the Gulen Movement and just believe they are a bunch of nice guys promoting dialogue and others are finding out every day about the dangers of the Turkish Lobbying aka the Gulen Movement.
You can find updated information on Legistorm.com
http://turkishinvitations.weebly.com/congressional-turkey-trips.html
March 19, 2011 last updated June 21, 2011
by C.A.S.I.L.I.P.S. - Citizens Against Special Interest Lobbying in Public Schools
Summary - based on information from
Legistorm website, accessed June 20, 2011
- search covered period 01/01/2000 - 06/20/2011
| Sponsor of Congressional Travel | Total value | # Trips | # Dem | # Rep |
| Council of Turkic American Associations | $26,660 | 9 | 7 | 2 |
| Institute of Interfaith Dialog for World Peace | $26,160 | 10 | 2 | 8 |
| Istanbul Center | $5,171 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Maryland Institute for Dialogue | $20,995 | 8 | 4 | 4 |
| Mid-Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations (MAFTAA) | $35,513 | 13 | 13 | 0 |
| Pacifica Institute | $16,840 | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| Rumi Forum for Interfaith Dialogue | $76,390 | 24 | 10 | 14 |
| Turkish American Federation of Midwest | $46,718 | 17 | 15 | 2 |
| Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) | $30,682 | 9 | 5 | 3 |
| Turkish Cultural Center New York | $29,990 | 11 | 6 | 5 |
| Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians | $67,378 | 19 | 4 | 15 |
| Total | $382,497 | 128 | 71 | 56 |
Here are details for each sponsor:
Institute of Interfaith Dialog for World Peace
| Congressman/Approver | Party | State | Traveler/Staffer | Dates | Cost |
| Carter, Rep. John | Rep | TX | Alsup, Christopher William (Chris) | 08/07/09-08/15/09 | $2,680.00 |
| Carter, Rep. John | Rep | TX | Stalnaker, Ryan D. | 08/07/09-08/15/09 | $2,680.00 |
| Conaway, Rep. Mike | Rep | TX | Balzano, Paul N. | 08/07/09-08/20/09 | $2,680.00 |
| Conaway, Rep. Mike | Rep | TX | Graves, Scott C. | 08/07/09-08/15/09 | $2,680.00 |
| Hall, Rep. Ralph | Rep | TX | Schell, Christopher R. (Chris) | 08/07/09-08/21/09 | $2,250.00 |
| Heinrich, Rep. Martin | Dem | NM | Samp, Anthony Pasquale (Tony) | 08/07/09-08/15/09 | $2,680.00 |
| Johnson, Rep. Sam | Rep | TX | Williams, Mark Ramon | 08/08/09-08/15/09 | $2,680.00 |
| Johnson, Rep. Sam | Rep | TX | Ray, Lindsey | 08/07/09-08/15/09 | $2,670.00 |
| Oberstar, Rep. Jim | Dem | MN | Cronin, Mary C. | 08/22/09-08/30/09 | $2,480.00 |
| Roskam, Rep. Peter | Rep | IL | Johnson, Brigitta A. | 08/07/09-08/15/09 | $2,680.00 |
Maryland Institute for Dialog
| Congressman/Approver | Party | State | Traveler/Staffer | Dates | Cost |
| Brady, Rep. Bob | Dem | PA | Barcliff, Nicole E. | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,550.00 |
| Baird, Rep. Brian | Dem | WA | Austin, Lisa Ann td> | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,550.00 |
| Cohen, Rep. Steve | Dem | TN | Cooks, Shirley W. | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,745.00 |
| Campbell, Rep. John Bayard Taylor | Rep | CA | Kaplan, Caitlin Horton | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,550.00 |
| Baldwin, Rep. Tammy Green | Dem | TWi | Murat, William M. (Bill) | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,725.00 |
| Foxx, Rep. Virginia | Rep | NC | Poole, William Todd (Todd) | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,550.00 |
| Whitfield, Rep. Ed | Rep | KY | Robertson, James E. | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,775.00 |
| Bachus, Rep. Spencer | Rep | AL | Staley, Michael Christopher | 08/04/07-08/11/07 | $2,550.00 |
Mid-Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations - MAFTAA
| Congressman/Approver | Party | State | Traveler/Staffer | Dates | Cost |
| Butterfield, Rep. G.K. | Dem | NC | Lilley, Laurence E. (Lee) | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,930.00 |
| Chandler, Rep. Ben | Dem | KY | Krimm, Jennifer | 04/22/11-04/28/11 | $2,930.00 |
| Connolly, Rep. Gerry | Dem | VA | Walkinshaw, James R. | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,930.00 |
| Critz, Rep. Mark | Dem | PA | Mazonkey, Matthew Stephen (Matt) | 11/05/10-11/12/10 | $2,679.00 |
| Hagan, Sen. Kay | Dem | NC | Peña, Roger J. | 11/05/10-11/13/10 | $2,159.00 |
| Kissell, Rep. Larry | Dem | NC | Pfister, Zachary S. (Zach) | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,930.00 |
| McIntyre, Rep. Mike | Dem | NC | Helms, Kaitlin | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,930.00 |
| Moran, Rep. Jim | Dem | VA | Durrer, Austin John | 11/05/10-11/12/10 | $2,679.00 |
| Moran, Rep. Jim | Dem | VA | Garofalo, Thomas M. (Tom) | 11/05/10-11/12/10 | $2,679.00 |
| Nye, Rep. Glenn | Dem | VA | Ross, Daniel E. (Dan) | 11/05/10-11/13/10 | $2,509.00 |
| Price, Rep. David | Dem | NC | Hildebrand, Asher Deva | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,930.00 |
| Shuler, Rep. Heath | Dem | NC | Fishman, Julie M. | 11/05/10-11/13/10 | $2,679.00 |
| Webb, Sen. Jim | Dem | VA | Reagan, Paul J. | 11/05/10-11/13/10 | $2,549.00 |
Pacifica Institute / West America Turkic Council
| Congressman/Approver | Party | State | Traveler/Staffer | Dates | Cost |
| Coffman, Rep. Mike | Rep | CO | Mandelson, Paul Winslow | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,452.00 |
| Young, Rep. Don | Rep | AK | Raabe, Aprille C. | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,452.00 |
| Young, Rep. Don | Rep | AK | Suslavich, Jason R. | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,452.00 |
| Bass, Rep. Karen | Dem | CA | Wood, Jennifer Punsalan (Jenny) | 04/22/11-05/01/11 | $2,452.00 |
| Filner, Rep. Bob | Dem | CA | Filner, Rep. Bob | 04/15/11-04/24/11 | $3,700.00 |
| Grijalva, Rep. Raúl | Dem | AZ | Guerrero, Bertha Alisia | 04/15/11-04/24/11 | $2,452.00 |
| Filner, Rep. Bob | Dem | CA | Filner, Rep. Bob | 12/22/10-12/31/10 | $880.00 |
Rumi Forum
| Congressman/Approver | Party | State | Traveler/Staffer | Dates | Cost |
| Berry, Rep. Marion | Dem | AR | Causey, Christopher Chad (Chad) | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Boehner, Rep. John | Rep | OH | Herrle, Cynthia Anne (Cindy) | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
| Coleman, Sen. Norm | Rep | MN | Navarro, Ana M. | 08/16/05-08/23/05 | $2,410.00 |
| Davis, Rep. Susan A. | Dem | CA | Hazard, William Daniel (Daniel) | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Davis, Rep. Tom | Rep | VA | Bennett, Aimee Brooke (Brooke) | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
| Fallin, Rep. Mary | Rep | OK | Weatherford, Austin Blake | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
| Fallin, Rep. Mary | Rep | OK | Weintz, Alexander H. (Alex) | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
| Grijalva, Rep. Raúl | Dem | AZ | Montano, Gloria I. | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Hensarling, Rep. Jeb | Rep | TX | Buchanan, Michael Dee (Dee) | 08/16/08-08/23/08 | $3,430.00 |
| Jones, Rep. Walter B. | Rep | NC | Downs, Glen Alan | 08/16/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
| Kind, Rep. Ron | Dem | WI | Spaziani, Kathryn J. (Kate) | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| King, Rep. Pete Rep | Rep | NY | Gundersen, Kevin | 08/16/08-08/23/08 | $3,350.00 |
| Lucas, Rep. Frank D. | Rep | OK | Scott, Margaret Nicole (Nicole) | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
| McCollum, Rep. Betty | Dem | MN | McCollum, Rep. Betty | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| McCollum, Rep. Betty | Dem | MN | Rashid, Lina Choudhry | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Meeks, Rep. Gregory | Dem | NY | Williams, Jihad Saleh (Saleh) | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Rogers, Rep. Mike | Rep | MI | Keiser, Andrew Justin (Andy) | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Royce, Rep. Ed | Rep | CA | Strupp, Hunter McLane | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Schmidt, Rep. Jean | Rep | OH | Bennett, Barry Patrick | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
| Tancredo, Rep. Tom | Rep | CO | Houlton, Tyler Q. | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Thompson, Rep. Bennie | Dem | MS | Pluviose-Fenton, Veronique | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,390.00 |
| Thompson, Rep. Bennie | Dem | MS | Salayandia-Darmanin, Marisela (Marisela) | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,390.00 |
| Udall, Rep. Mark Emery | Dem | CO | Salazar, Alan | 05/24/08-06/01/08 | $3,020.00 |
| Whitfield, Rep. Ed | Rep | KY | Sparkman, John Stephen | 08/15/08-08/23/08 | $3,400.00 |
It is baffling that while the Rumi Forum spent at least $73,980 (and the actual value of these trips may be greater than the declared value) to pay for trips of Congressional staffers and one Congresswoman in the year 2008, nevertheless it declared on its 2008 IRS Form 990 $0 in expenses for "Payments of travel or entertainment expenses for any federal, state or local public officials." Even supposing that perhaps Congressional staffers are not legally classified by the IRS as "public officials," Congresswoman Betty McCollum certainly was. The Rumi Forum also declared $0 in "lobbying" expenses.
Does the IRS truly accept that all these Congressional trips are not lobbying, but rather just "educational"? Not to mention all the other activities that politicians are invited to - seminars, conferences, dinners,...
