Federal prosecutors on Tuesday debunked a long - run conspiracy theory promote by President Trump and right - wing blog The Daily Caller , firmly declaring a former congressional IT staff member of Pakistani nascency guiltless of a slew of trumped up espionage and computer related criminal offense .
Imran Awan , a former IT medical specialist for Democratic lawmaker , include U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz , became over several months this year the stress of a smear job lead by the Caller and resound by the prexy of the United States . In more than dozen stories , the right - flank web log , found by Fox News host Tucker Carlson , set about to bond Awan to a broad range of alleged criminal activity , includingunauthorized accessto governing server , which is a felony .
This April , the Caller took the plunge into undercover agent novel soil when itreportedthe alleged legal transfer of a deep USB drive by Awan ’s Father-God to Pakistani intelligence . Luke Rosiak , the blogger who conduct the Caller ’s investigating into Awan , told Fox Newsthat the affair was “ flat out of James Bond . ”
Awan was turn back in July 2017 at Dulles International Airport in Washington , D.C. , and charged with savings bank imposter in connexion with a $ 165,000 home fairness loanword .
U.S. prosecutors took the unusual step Tuesday of earn Awan of any espionage or hacking related to charge — though they had never accuse him of such — noting the legion “ public allegations ” against him .
Pakistani national working for Dems . allegedly stole data from House server , transferred USB drive to a Pakistani Govt . Not gon na contain our breath for@CNNto binding this.https://t.co/4XHzmrc6RZ
— Daily Caller ( @DailyCaller)April 19 , 2018
According to theWashington Post , prosecutors wrote in a plea agreement that it had “ unveil no grounds ” that Awan “ breach federal law with obedience to the House figurer systems . ” That include “ stealing equipment or illegally access or transferring selective information , ” the Post reported .
The prosecutor wrote that a “ thorough investigating ” was make out , clearing Awan of the allegations raised by Caller , though the land site was not identified by name . The investigation included “ forensic analysis of electronic computer equipment and other gimmick , logarithm - on utilization data , and interviews with about 40 attestor , ” according to the Post .
President Trump also bring together the smearing of Awan , suggesting in an April tweet that he was somehow tie to the 2016 hacking of the Democratic National Committee ( DNC ) server , urge on the Justice Departmentto not let Awan “ off the hooking . ” ( The U.S. tidings community has assessed with mellow confidence that the DNC breach was channelise by Russia . )
Just heard the cause was litigate by the Obstructionist Democrats . This can be proficient word in that we will now counter for the DNC Server that they refused to give to the FBI , the Debbie Wasserman Schultz Servers and Documents hold by the Pakistani whodunit humans and Clinton Emails .
— Donald J. Trump ( @realDonaldTrump)April 20 , 2018
In his tweet , Trump labeled Awan “ the Pakistani closed book valet , ” a byname picked up by the Caller . ( Awan is a U.S. citizen primitively from Pakistan . )
At the close of an 18 - calendar month investigation , Awan plead shamefaced to no more than the small-scale offence of make a imitation statement on a bank loanword coating , for which prosecuting attorney are declining to urge any jail prison term .
In an interview with the Post , Awaz questioned whether the case against him would have even been pursued had his name not been Pakistani and accused Trump of using him to go on a political schedule .
“ This has cost me my reputation , my sustenance , my family , ” he say the paper . “ I ca n’t believe this . ”
[ Washington Post ]
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