(Washington Post) - Gregory L. Vistica Millions of dollars impounded by the U.S. government from three Islamic charities accused of financing terrorism have been spent to pay the legal bills of the foundations' attorneys, according to the Treasury Department and the lawyers themselves. Lawyers for the charities - the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, Benevolence International Foundation, and Global Relief Foundation - have billed the government for approximately $3 million worth of services. The practice of allowing assets frozen in the domestic war on terrorism to be relinquished to the organizations accused of financing groups such as al-Qaeda has alarmed several members of Congress. Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, said his panel plans to review the issue as part of hearings on the financing of terrorist groups.
2003-11-04 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive