Al Franken's Blog, page 37

RELEASE: We’ve seen this before: Mike McFadden runs from his company’s record

We’ve seen this before: Mike McFadden runs from his company’s record
This isn’t the first time the investment banker has claimed no responsibility for a deal his company took credit for on its website

ST. PAUL [10/27/14] — Investment banker Mike McFadden is trying desperately to claim his company, Lazard Middle Market, was not involved in the Smurfit-Stone restructuring deal that resulted in 417 workers in Missoula, Montana, losing their jobs, even though the deal was featured prominently on the company’s website on his watch. Until last week, McFadden and his firm took credit for the Smurfit-Stone restructuring, but now he refuses to take responsibility for it while he was serving as CEO.  READ MORE HERE.

Sound familiar? It’s because McFadden has tried this tactic before.

Last May, on his second day as a Senate candidate, McFadden tried to claim his company played no role in the debt restructuring of NewPage Corporation that resulted in 300 workers, including 13 Minnesotans, losing their jobs. That deal was ALSO featured on Lazard Middle Market’s website as a deal McFadden’s company had done.

In the case of NewPage, McFadden just tried to deny his firm did anything on the deal it was currently taking credit for online. But in the case of Smurfit-Stone, all mentions of the deal suddenly vanished from the Lazard Middle Market website entirely only after the Franken campaign highlighted it in its latest ad.

As of this morning, the NewPage deal hasn’t been scrubbed from Lazard Middle Market’s website… yet.

UNDER FIRE FOR HIS FIRM’S ROLE IN THE NEWPAGE RESTRUCTURING, WHICH COST 300 WORKERS – INCLUDING 13 MINNESOTANS – THEIR JOBS, MCFADDEN TRIED TO EVADE THE CRITICISM BY CLAIMING HIS FIRM HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH A DEAL IT BRAGS ABOUT ON ITS WEBSITE

McFadden’s Campaign Tried To Deflect Criticism Of Lazard Middle Market’s Role In Layoffs At NewPage In Duluth By Claiming It Had Nothing To Do With The Deal … According to MPR, “One day after McFadden announced that he intends to challenge DFL Sen. Al Franken, ABM released a web video criticizing McFadden for his role in the restructuring at a Duluth paper mill that resulted in job cuts … But McFadden’s campaign manager, Tom Erickson, said McFadden and his company, Lazard Middle Market, had nothing to do with the restructuring. ABM should take the video down, Erickson said. ‘Lazard Middle Market was not involved in the deal portrayed in the video,’ Erickson said. ‘This is a classic attempt by Al Franken’s allies to distort Mike McFadden’s record in business.’” [MPR, 5/30/13]

… Except Lazard Middle Market Touts Its Role In The Deal On Its Website. According to MPR, “But Lucking said McFadden’s company did play a role in NewPage restructuring. She points to Lazard Middle Market’s website that says NewPage was one of the transactions done by McFadden’s company.” [MPR, 5/30/13; Lazard Middle Market, Transactions]

February 2013: Fresh Out Of Bankruptcy, NewPage Launched A “Company-Wide Reduction Of 300 Employees” That Included 13 Minnesotans. In February 2013, the Duluth News-Tribune reported, “Thirteen employees at NewPage paper mill in West Duluth have been laid off, the result of the company-wide reduction of 300 employees. NewPage Corp., owner of the Duluth mill and seven other mills in the United States, is eliminating 300 of its 6,000 positions at its eight U.S. paper mills because of rising costs and declining demand for its paper products … Each of the company’s locations is reducing its staff by 5 percent, according to Matt Christenson, communications coordinator at the Duluth mill. For Duluth, which had 282 employees before the layoffs, it resulted in the elimination of 13 hourly and salaried positions, he said.” [Duluth News-Tribune, 2/25/13]

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RELEASE: Mike McFadden can’t explain why his company scrubbed Smurfit-Stone deal

Mike McFadden can’t explain why his company scrubbed Smurfit-Stone deal
Investment banker speechless at debate as to why his company removed deal from website

ST. PAUL [10/26/14] — SPEECHLESS: Investment banker Mike McFadden could not explain at today’s WCCO-TV debate why his company, Lazard Middle Market, suddenly scrubbed all mentions of its work on the Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation restructuring deal featured in the Franken campaign’s new ad, “Wasteland,” which details the devastation that occurred as a result of the deal.

Debate moderator Esme Murphy repeatedly pressed McFadden on how he could claim his company was not involved in a restructuring deal that shuttered a Montana mill, laying off all 417 workers, when the deal was explicitly featured on the Lazard Middle Market website on his watch. McFadden could not answer the question — WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:

ESME MURPHY: Let’s talk about this latest ad Mr. McFadden, because you are saying it is absolutely false that your company negotiated a deal that resulted in a mine closing in Missoula, Montana, that resulted in 400 plus layoffs. Did your company, it was on your company’s website that they did that deal?

MIKE MCFADDEN: So the company that I run, which is called Lizard Middle Market, did not do that deal, was not involved in that transaction.

ESME MURPHY: Why was it on the website? I’ve got the website right here. It says Lazard Middle Market and had that deal right underneath it.

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AL FRANKEN: 400 jobs lost. They did the restructuring. They bragged about doing the restructuring for the whole length of this campaign until we ran the ad. This has been an issue out there. It was in Politico about a year and a half ago. They kept it on, they knew his company did the restructuring on this.

In 2009 and 2010, McFadden’s company advised the restructuring of Smurfit-Stone. During the restructuring, Smurfit-Stone shuttered a Montana mill, laying off all 417 workers. McFadden’s company walked away with a $9 million fee from the deal.

On Friday, McFadden tried and failed to distance himself from the deal, claiming Lazard Middle Market was not part of the restructuring deal even though the deal was prominently featured as a transaction on Lazard Middle Market’s website.

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RELEASE: Franken kicks off final week of election with strong debate performance

Franken kicks off final week of election with strong debate performance
Heads into home stretch of campaign with strong momentum

ST. PAUL [10/26/14] — Sen. Al Franken kicked off the final week of his re-election campaign this morning by winning the WCCO-TV debate, highlighting his record of working across party lines to deliver concrete, bipartisan results for Minnesotans and clearly defining the choice before voters this election.

A key moment from the debate came when Sen. Franken held investment banker Mike McFadden accountable for his business record, saying, “If you are CEO and you don’t take responsibility for what your company does, what are you going to do as a Senator?”

Sen. Franken enters the homestretch of the campaign with strong momentum. Over the past week, he has spoken in front of thousands of Minnesotans at rallies in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Northfield, and received newspapers’ endorsements from across the state, including the Star Tribune, ECM newspapers, the St. Cloud Times, Insight News and the Minnesota Daily.

Here’s what Minnesotans have been reading about Sen. Franken this week from the news outlets that have endorsed him for re-election:

ECM: “Campaign rhetoric is one thing; getting results in Washington is something else … It is also evident that Franken has made a determined effort to work across party lines and achieve bipartisan agreements.”

STAR TRIBUNE: “Franken has kept his head down and delivered on what this page asked of him when he belatedly started his term in 2009 — policy work that benefits residents of this state. In many cases, he’s done so while working with Republican colleagues.”

STAR TRIBUNE: “As we had hoped, Franken is comfortable in “the weeds” — that policy wonk space in which legislators address real-world issues such as student debt, privacy rights and food safety.”

MINNESOTA DAILY: “We support Franken in continuing what he started: serving Minnesotans, especially students. Franken has enacted a number of measures benefiting students. As a co-sponsor of the DREAM Act and student loan and open-textbook bills, Franken supports getting everyone in Minnesota a quality education.”

ECM: “We believe Al Franken is best prepared to deal with major issues facing the United States and Minnesota.”

STAR TRIBUNE: “[Sen. Franken] added common-sense provisions to the bipartisan Violence Against Women Act to help protect victims of domestic violence and sexual assault from financial harm… He has also championed food safety, job training, renewable energy, Internet neutrality, funding for Native American schools, student debt relief and privacy-rights measures.”

ST. CLOUD TIMES: “…Franken still stood up for Main Street over Wall Street, for a reasonable farm bill, and for better matching people with employers through education.”

INSIGHT NEWS :  “Senator Franken exemplifies fearless, principled representation for the people of Minnesota; and for the nation. Franken is clear and consistent on progressive policies that eliminate barriers to success and productivity for businesses, that support military service men and women and their families and that promote fair and equitable farm and trade policy.”

STAR TRIBUNE: “[Sen. Franken’s] provision in the Affordable Care Act requiring insurers to spend at least 80 percent of premiums on actual health care is a needed curb on rising administrative costs. Working with Republican Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi, Franken co-sponsored legislation targeting credit rating agencies for conflicts of interest that contributed to the 2008 financial meltdown.”

ECM: “We applaud Franken’s determined work on workforce investment programs that build partnerships between the government, schools, businesses and men and women who train to fill high-skill jobs. In a time when many jobs go unfilled because trained workers can’t be found, it is a highly important effort.”

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WCCO DEBATE: McFadden’s business made millions on merger that moved U.S. company offshore

Investment banker Mike McFadden’s business made millions on a merger that moved a U.S. company overseas. McFadden tries to deflect criticism for this deal by saying his business didn’t represent the American company, they represented the Irish company. But the facts speak for themselves: McFadden’s firm DID manage the deal that resulted in Jazz Pharmaceuticals moving to Ireland to avoid paying U.S. taxes and it DID make more than $11 million.

FACT: McFadden’s Firm DID Manage The Deal That Resulted In Jazz Moving To Ireland To Avoid Taxes, And It DID Make More Than $11 Million

August 2014: “Minnesota Senate Hopeful Defends Firm’s Role In Merger That Led US Company To Ireland.” According to the AP, “Years before Burger King sized up a Canadian headquarters in a hunt for lower taxes, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike McFadden’s investment firm was involved in a merger that moved an American pharmaceutical company to Ireland and significantly dropped its tax rate. McFadden’s Minnesota-based firm made more than $11 million, according to public filings. The 2012 deal came at the foot of a recent wave of so-called tax inversions in which U.S. companies merge with a foreign partner and reincorporate abroad to generate tax savings.” [AP, via Star Tribune, 8/30/14]

HEADLINE: “Mike McFadden Defends Role In Irish Firm’s ‘Inversion’ Merger”[AP, via Pioneer Press, 8/29/14]

Lazard-Brokered Deal Helped Jazz Pharmaceuticals “[Relocate] Its Corporate Headquarters To Ireland And [Escape] The U.S. Tax Regime.” According to the New York Times, “In 2011, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, a California-based drug maker, acquired Azur Pharma, a small rival based in Ireland. Because the stock deal transferred more than 20 percent ownership of the combined company to foreign holders, Jazz was able to enact an ‘inversion’ — relocating its corporate headquarters to Ireland and escaping the U.S. tax regime. Jazz’s deal for Azur was part of a new wave of inversions that is occurring as U.S. companies look for tax relief wherever they can find it. And Ireland has proven a popular destination for inverted companies, thanks to its relatively low tax rate.” [New York Times,12/20/13]

Bottom line: Investment banker Mike McFadden’s business made millions on a merger that moved a U.S. company overseas to avoid paying U.S. taxes. 

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WCCO DEBATE: McFadden would have voted against thousands of Minnesota education jobs

Investment banker Mike McFadden would have chosen to support tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas over creating and supporting about 2,800 education jobs.

McFadden attacked Sen. Franken multiple times for voting for a bill in 2010 that would have saved 2,800 Minnesota education jobs. The bill was paid for in part by ending tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.

Sen. Franken voted to end these tax breaks because he believes they’re wrong. Sen. Franken also believed that supporting Minnesota jobs during one of the worst parts of the recession was critical.

MCFADDEN ATTACKED FRANKEN-BACKED LEGISLATION THAT CLOSED TAX LOOPHOLES FOR COMPANIES THAT SHIP JOBS OVERSEAS AND USED THAT MONEY TO HELP SAVE APPROXIMATELY 2,800 MINNESOTA EDUCATION JOBS

McFadden Attacked Franken For Voting To Close Tax Loopholes For Companies That Ship Jobs Overseas. Two different McFadden ads have attacked Franken for an August 2010 vote for a bill that was paid for in part by closing tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. According to MinnPost, “The long-awaited measure contains $10 billion to underwrite jobs for teachers — among other crucial funding — and lawmakers want the money in place when fiscal year 2011 starts on Oct. 1. Minnesota’s projected share: $168 million in ‘edujob’ funds and $263 million in additional Medicaid dollars. Pro-rated by Minnesota’s average teacher salary and benefits (59,000 a year), the education funds could hire — or retain — about 2,800 educators … ‘Ensuring that Minnesota can maintain our education and health care standards during these tough economic times is imperative,’ said Al Franken, a member of the Senate committee that crafted the bill. ‘The vote in the Senate…clears the way for the jobs bill to save thousands of education jobs and help prevent further cuts to important programs like Medical Assistance.’” [WCCO, 9/10/14; McFadden Press Release, 9/16/14; Vote 228,8/5/10; MinnPost, 8/6/10; Washington Post, 8/5/10]

Bottom Line: Supporting this bill is a no brainer. But Mike McFadden will always put profits over people.

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WCCO DEBATE: McFadden supports tax breaks for corporations that ship jobs overseas

Investment banker Mike McFadden has made it clear on multiple occasions that he supports tax breaks for companies that ship American jobs overseas.

Mike McFadden reinforced his profits-over-people philosophy when he attacked Sen. Franken for voting to end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, multiple times. Sen. Franken voted to end these tax breaks because he believes they’re wrong.

McFadden’s support for tax breaks for companies that ship American jobs overseas isn’t surprising. Even his own campaign t-shirts are made in Nicaragua instead of in America and by American workers.

MCFADDEN SUPPORTS TAX BREAKS FOR CORPORATIONS THAT SHIP JOBS OVERSEAS

McFadden Repeatedly Defends Tax Loopholes For Companies That Ship Jobs Overseas. McFadden’s ad attacks Franken for voting for a measure that would end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas. According to the Washington Post, “To pay for the new spending, the measure would cut off in March 2014 an expansion of food-stamp benefits enacted in last year’s stimulus. And it would end tax breaks for some multinational corporations that are based in the United States but have operations and pay taxes abroad. Closing those ‘loopholes,’ as Democrats call them, is the centerpiece of a House Democratic campaign to promote domestic manufacturing and discourage companies from shipping jobs overseas.” [McFadden Press Release, 9/16/14; WCCO, 9/10/14; Vote 228, 8/5/10; Washington Post, 8/5/10]

McFadden Campaign Distributed T-Shirts Made In Nicaragua. “Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike McFadden talks a lot about the importance of jobs. For instance, in recent weeks, he’s said things like, ‘Senator [Franken] along with President Obama have waged a war on jobs in this country,’ and, ‘I’ve created jobs. That’s what I do. I have a record of 20 years of doing that, and I look forward to that conversation.’ So eyebrows were raised when McFadden’s campaign distributed shirts at the MNGOP convention in Rochester that were made in Nicaragua.” [City Pages, 6/17/14]

Bottom Line: Investment banker Mike McFadden will always have a profits-over-people mentality and that’s wrong for Minnesota.

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WCCO DEBATE: Franken has strong bipartisan record

Investment banker Mike McFadden’s attacks on Sen. Franken’s voting record ring hollow. Sen. Franken has a strong record of working across party lines to deliver concrete results and has repeatedly stood up to the President and his administration when his policies, proposals or regulations don’t make sense for Minnesotans.

In their endorsement of his re-election, ECM newspapers wrote that Sen. Franken “has made a determined effort to work across party lines and achieve bipartisan agreements” and that “an examination of Franken’s work reflects bipartisan efforts that have produced results.”

The so-called “study” McFadden uses to call Sen. Franken the most partisan Senator also claims that Sen. Ted Cruz is more bipartisan than half the U.S. Senate—the same Tea Party Republican who led the charge to shut down the government last year.

MCFADDEN CITES “REPORT CARD” THAT CLAIMS THAT REPUBLICAN SENATOR WHO HELPED SHUT DOWN THE GOVENRMENT IS LESS PARTISAN THAN MORE THAN HALF THE UNITED STATES SENATE. Using the same GovTrack “report card” cited in McFadden’s, Texas Senator Ted Cruz would be the 42nd most bipartisan Senator. Senator Cruz was widely credited with leading the charge in 2013 to shut down the federal government. According to Huffington Post, “House Republicans give one person the most credit for bringing Congress to its current standoff over funding for the federal government: Ted Cruz. With the clock ticking toward the first government shutdown in 17 years, many lawmakers said they never would have been here had it not been for the junior senator from Texas.” [GovTrack, Joining Bipartisan Bills; Huffington Post, 9/29/13]

FRANKEN HAS WORKED ACROSS PARTY LINES AND DELIVERED RESULTS FOR MINNESOTANS

Star Tribune: “Franken Owes Much Of His Success So Far To His Ability To Forge Alliances, Even Friendships, With Republican Senators.” According to the Star Tribune, “Many of his other initiatives have been passed, nearly all of them with the help of Republican partners. Among Franken’s main interests: privacy, technology, workforce development, veterans, health care, renewable energy and agriculture … Franken owes much of his success so far to his ability to forge alliances, even friendships, with Republican senators. A sense of humor on both sides can break down a lot of barriers, he said. ‘They figured out pretty quickly that I laugh a lot.’” [Star Tribune, 2/7/14 (emphasis added)]

National Journal: “Franken … Has Proved A Surprisingly Effective Senator.” According to National Journal, “Franken, a Harvard-educated comic who once wrote a best-seller titled Rush Limbaugh Is a Big Fat Idiot, has proved a surprisingly effective senator, many of his colleagues say. Not only did he tackle the ratings agencies, he sponsored a provision considered one of the most effective elements of the new health care reform law — raising the ‘medical loss ratio’ to force insurers to spend far more on actual health care and less on CEO pay, marketing, and other nonmedical things.” [National Journal, 8/10/11]

WCCO’s Esme Murphy: Franken “Has Also Delivered On Substance.” According to an August 2013 blog post, “And then there is substance. While Franken has mastered the art of backing measures that no one could be against, (service dogs for veterans comes to mind), he has also delivered on substance. While the ultimate verdict on Health Care Reform will likely rest on the success of state Health Care Exchanges (MnSure in Minnesota), it was Franken who authored what is widely seen as one of the most successful provisions in the bill. His provision that large insurers use 85 percent of premiums for actual services or be forced to rebate customers has resulted in 8.5 million American getting rebate checks. The president himself singled out the provision at a White House event last month.” [WCCO, Esme Murphy Blog, 8/3/13]

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WCCO DEBATE: McFadden’s record of ducking national security issues

Investment banker Mike McFadden has a record of ducking national security issues. Not only did McFadden hide from reporters one year ago and refuse to respond to multiple requests for a comment on military action against Syria, but he also literally fled from a voter when asked a question about the Patriot Act.

FACT: MIKE MCFADDEN HAS A RECORD OF DUCKING NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUES; AVOIDED QUESTIONS ABOUT SYRIA A YEAR AGO AND LITERALLY FLED FROM A VOTER WHO ASKED HIM ABOUT THE PATRIOT ACT

McFadden Did Not Respond To Multiple Calls From MPR To Give His Position On Syria. In September 2013, Minnesota Public Radio reported: “The fourth announced Republican candidate, Mike McFadden, didn’t respond to two telephone requests seeking comment about his position on military action against Syria.” [Minnesota Public Radio,9/10/13]

McFadden Did Not Give His Position On Syria To Huffington Post. In September 2013, Huffington Post reported: “The Senate candidates’ positions are below, broken down by state… Mike McFadden (R) — NO RESPONSE.” [Huffington Post, 9/6/13]

McFadden Left A Caucus When He Was Asked About The Patriot Act, Refused To Give His Position On It To A Reporter Who Followed Him Out. In February 2014, Minnesota Public Radio reported: “Mike McFadden walked into caucus meetings a few weeks ago in Apple Valley wanting to talk federal budget and the Affordable Care Act. Then came a question about his view on the Patriot Act and its power to hold people indefinitely without being charged. The GOP candidate for Senate left the room without answering, telling caucus-goers, ‘I’ve got to run to another meeting.’ Pressed by a reporter in the hallway, he offered an answer that had nothing to do with the Patriot Act. ‘Once again, my focus is on the economy, education and health care.’” [Minnesota Public Radio, 2/20/14]

Minnesota Voter: “He Ducked. He Literally Put His Head Down And Walked Out Of The Room And Said I’ve Got To Go.” “McFadden’s initial response to the Patriot Act question at the caucus in Apple Valley still frustrates 62-year-old Larry Billson, the guy who asked the question. ‘He ducked. He literally put his head down and walked out of the room and said I’ve got to go,’ Billson recalled.” [Minnesota Public Radio, 2/20/14]

Bottom Line: Investment banker Mike McFadden never misses an opportunity to play politics with national security.

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WCCO DEBATE: State Department already has authority to revoke passports

Sen. Franken has said he will look at any proposal that would make sure that individuals fighting with ISIL cannot return to this country. The State Department already has the authority to revoke passports. Even Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said the State Department already has this authority.

September 2014: Franken Spokeswoman Said Franken Would “Look At Any Proposal That Would Make Sure That Individuals Fighting With ISIL Cannot Return To This Country,” But Added That The State Department Already Had That Authority.According to the Star Tribune, “Asked whether Franken backs Bachmann’s proposal, Fetissoff said: ‘The State Department already has the authority to revoke passports but Sen. Franken will look at any proposal that would make sure that individuals fighting with ISIL cannot return to this country.’” [Star Tribune, 9/10/14]

Republican Senators Acknowledged The State Department Had The Authority To Revoke Passports Of Suspected Terrorists By Asking Them To Exercise It. According to the Washington Times, “In a letter last week to the State and Homeland Security departments, 14 Republican senators asked Secretary of State John F. Kerry to use the authority the law grants him to revoke passports of anyone who is discovered to have joined the militants. Their concern underscores realities of war in the 21st century … A State Department official acknowledged the authority to revoke passports of those deemed to be national security threats and said that power would be used ‘based on the circumstances and evidence.’” [Washington Times, 9/15/14]

Former Secretary Of State Albright: McFadden’s Proposal Would Not Be Successful.In October 2014, MinnPost asked Secretary Albright, “[Franken’s] opponent, Mike McFadden, has proposed revoking the passports of people who have gone overseas and trained with these groups. Would that be a successful approach to this?” Albright replied, “No, the State Department has the authority to revoke passports. It is ongoing, it’s something that’s been there because over the years people are concerned about a particular individual, but what is important is to do it on a case-by-case basis, which is what the Senator has been saying. [State Department officials] basically watch who may be a threat of some kind, and what diplomats do is issue visas or not issue visas, and revoke passports on a case-by-case basis. So I don’t think it needs kind of that blunt approach of a law.” [MinnPost, 10/20/14]

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WCCO DEBATE: McFadden plays politics with ISIL and terrorist recruitment

Investment banker Mike McFadden continues to play election year politics with ISIL’s activities abroad and here at home. Sen. Franken has been on top of terrorist recruitment in Minnesota since taking office. Any accusations to the contrary are patently false and an unscrupulous attempt to deceive Minnesotans. The Department of Justice (DOJ) just announced a new program to combat terror recruitment after Sen. Franken pressed them for more resources.

FRANKEN HAS REPEATEDLY PRESSED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO ENSURE COUNTERTERRORISM EFFORTS WERE EFFECTIVE AND THAT THERE WAS REAL COOPERATION BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT AND MINNESOTA’S SOMALI COMMUNITY

September 2009: Franken Thanked FBI Director For Briefings On Terror Recruitment In Minnesota, Inquired How The Bureau Was Doing In Recruiting Agents Who Have Cultural And Language Backgrounds To Improve Those Investigations. [Judiciary Committee Hearing, 9/16/09]

March 2011: Franken Questioned Homeland Security Secretary On Whether “There Had Been Real Cooperation From That Community In Minnesota, Including Imams And The Mosques.” [Judiciary Committee Hearing, 3/9/11]

March 2011: Franken Said He Had Spoken To The Justice Department About Ensuring There Was Cooperation From Minnesota’s Somali Community. [Judiciary Committee Hearing, 3/9/11]

March 2011: Franken Pressed Homeland Security Secretary On Whether She Was Working “To Have A Somali Face On Some Of Our Counterterrorism Efforts In The Somali Community In Minnesota.” [Judiciary Committee Hearing, 3/9/11]

March 2011: Franken Confirmed With The FBI Director That Minnesota’s Somali Community Was Cooperating Well With Law Enforcement To Prevent Terror Recruitment. [Judiciary Committee Hearing, 3/30/11]

March 2011: Franken Questioned FBI Director About Whether His Agency Was Recruiting Agents From Within Key Communities For Counterterrorism Work.[Judiciary Committee Hearing, 3/30/11]

April 2012: Citing The Positive Relationship Between Minnesota’s Somali Community And Law Enforcement When It Comes To Stopping Al-Shabaab Recruiting In The Twin Cities, Franken Said Racial Profiling Undermines The Relationship Between Communities And Law Enforcement. [Judiciary Committee Hearing, 4/17/12]

FRANKEN AND HIS STAFF HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THE FBI AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES ON THE ISSUE OF POTENTIAL ISIS RECRUITMENT IN MINNESOTA AND PRESSING THEM ON HOW THEY’RE USING THE TOOLS AT THEIR DISPOSAL TO PREVENT THAT RECRUITMENT

August 2014: Franken Told KMSP His Office Had Already Been In Contact With The FBI About The Possibility Of Minnesotans Having Perished Fighting Alongside ISIS.During an August 2014 interview with KMSP, Franken, asked about news that up to two Minnesotans had died fighting with ISIS, said his office had been talking to the FBI about the news. He called it “disturbing” that Americans were going to fight with ISIS. [KMSP, 8/30/14]

September 2014: “Franken Urges Department Of Justice To Focus On ISIL Recruiting At Home.” On September 2, Franken wrote Attorney General Holder, expressing his concern about the President’s lack of a strategy regarding ISIS in Syria and told Holder, “We must act diligently and responsibly to prevent Americans from taking up arms with ISIL, or from reentering our country if they do.” [Star Tribune, 9/2/14]

Star Tribune: Franken Called On The Attorney General “To Focus DOJ Efforts Where Terrorism Recruitment May Be Happening.” In his letter to Attorney General Holder Franken said, “The Justice Department, in coordination with other relevant agencies, should use its existing legal authorities to prevent Americans who intend to do serious damage to U.S. national security interests from reaching Syria or returning to the U.S. once they have done so.’” [Star Tribune, 9/2/14]

September 2014: “Franken Said U.S. Officials Need To Closely Track Minnesotans With Ties To ISIS And Arrest Them If They Are Suspected Of Supporting Terrorism.” Franken told Minnesota Public Radio that “any federal authorities should closely scrutinize any who return. The Democratic senator said he hopes to meet soon with FBI officials in Saint Paul for an update on their assessment of the Minnesota-ISIS connection.” Franken added he was hoping to meet with FBI agents in St. Paul to discuss the issue further. “Franken said U.S. officials need to closely track Minnesotans with ties to ISIS and arrest them if they are suspected of supporting terrorism.” [Minnesota Pubic Radio,9/2/14]

September 2014: Franken Met With FBI In St. Paul To Discuss Potential ISIS Recruitment In Minnesota, Said He Had Been Working On This Issue Since He First Came To The Senate. During a September 8 interview with MSNBC, Franken said he had met with the FBI’s Special Agent In Charge in Minnesota to discuss potential ISIS recruitment in Minnesota. He said that the Somali community in Minnesota was cooperating with law enforcement, saying “Believe me, no one is more upset about this than they are, than that community.” Franken added that he had met with FBI shortly after arriving in the Senate to discuss potential recruitment by Al-Shabaab in Minnesota as well. [MSNBC, 9/8/14]

September 2014: After Franken Called For More Resources, Justice Department Announced A New Program To Combat Terror Recruitment. According to the Star Tribune, “The Twin Cities were one of three municipalities in the country that will participate in a pilot program to boost outreach in the Islamic community in effort to combat recruitment of naturalized Americans by the terrorist group ISIL, Department of Justice officials said Wednesday. The pilot project will ‘bring together important Minnesota law enforcement, religious, and community leaders to expand outreach to Minnesotans,’ according to Sen. Al Franken’s office, which has urged the Obama administration to deliver additional resources to Minnesota.” [Star Tribune, 9/17/14]

Bottom Line: Investment banker Mike McFadden is playing election year politics with a very serious issue.

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