Democrat Abigail Spanberger, who is challenging Republican Rep. David Brat this fall, says the Congressional Leadership Fund illegally obtained sensitive personal information about her from her federal security clearance.
The PAC obtained information about how the former CIA officer had worked at the Islamic Saudi Academy, a high school in Northern Virginia which has graduated so many prominent Islamic terrorists that the Associated Press once dubbed “terror high,” and a bipartisan group of senators once sought to shut it down.
The Congressional Leadership Fund published an image from her security clearance application showing her tenure at the school. All personal information was redacted:
“I write as a former civil servant and as an American, in shock and in anger, that you have tried to exploit my service to our country by exposing my most personal information in the name of politics,” Spanberger, wrote to Ryan’s super PAC in a letter first obtained by the Washington Post. She further demanded that the group destroy any and all documents. In other words, her paper trail.
But the Congressional Leadership Fund didn’t break into federal offices to steal documents. They filed a Freedom of Information Request. The Congressional Leadership Fund didn’t dox Spanberger either, carefully redacting her personal information. They just revealed facts about her career that potential constituents might want answers about.
This should serve as Spanberger’s introduction to politics and to political service. Details about a candidate’s past absolutely should be made public, no matter how embarrassing. And here, the details are absolutely relevant.
Just ask Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. The New York Democrat was so concerned about the Islamic Saudi Academy back in 2005 that he called for a full-scale probe of the institution. He did it for good reason too. One of the school’s valedictorians, Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, later joined al Qaeda and was indicted for plotting to assassinate President George W. Bush. He is currently serving 30 years in prison.
Two of the schools’ other students, the New York Post reported at the time, were denied entry into Israel in 2001. According to authorities, the boys were carrying “farewell notes,” a tell-tale sign of a suicide attack. The pair were later arrested.
Spanberger has made much of her time in the CIA, as any candidate would. Her service to our country is admirable. On the other hand, her attempt to hide part of her resume is ridiculous. Candidates do not get to pick and choose which parts of their stories to share with voters. Instead of whining, she should prepare to answer tough and merited questions about her record.
