At a May 10th House of Representatives meeting, the Department of Justice (DOJ) was urged to officially sever ties with the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), as reported by The Daily Caller.
Citing CAIR's designation as unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation (HLF) trial, The Committee Report of Fiscal Year 2012 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriates Bill urges Attorney General Eric Holder to wholly disengage with CAIR.
The section reads, "The Committee acknowledges the Attorney General's refusal to attend certain meetings knowing that CAIR officials would be present, as indicated in testimony before the Committee on February 28, 2012. The Committee understands that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has an existing policy prohibiting its employees from engaging in any formal non-investigative cooperation with CAIR. The Committee encourages the Attorney General to adopt a similar policy for all Department officials."
Passed in The U.S. House of Representatives on May 10th, the bill's Committee Report similarly echoes the FBI cutoff with CAIR in 2009, also citing CAIR's HLF involvement.
However, the FBI does not entirely adhere to this official severance of ties.
The Committee Report also advises the FBI to sever ties with other unindicted co-conspirators in terror-linked cases, "The Committee also encourages the FBI to adopt similar policies, where appropriate, with regard to other individuals and organizations identified as unindicted co-conspirators in terrorism related cases."
Both CAIR and The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) are listed on the HLF case documents of unindicted co-conspirators and/or Joint venturers.
However, the FBI still routinely meets with unindicted co-conspirators of the HLF case, specifically CAIR and ISNA.
As recent as May 2012, U.S. Attorney Wilfredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney Norman Heming and an FBI official met with representatives from CAIR's Florida Chapter "to discuss issues of mutual concern" as part of the DOJ "outreach effort to strengthen relations with the Muslim community."
"Being able to meet face-to-face is the best way to address issues," CAIR South Florida's Executive Director Nezar Hamze stated.
Similarly, in February 2012, the Public Affairs Office of the FBI Director Robert Mueller met with both The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) and ISNA to discuss the anti-Muslim bias in training materials used by the FBI.
"We welcome and appreciate Director Mueller's commitment to take positive steps towards eradicating such materials and rebuilding trust and an open dialogue," ISNA President Imam Magid stated.
Since the FBI continues to meet and cooperate with unindicted co-conspirators in the HLF case in "non-investigative" circumstances, the likelihood of the DOJ adhering to this recommendation appears distant.