Representative Rashida Tlaib, a Democrat from Michigan, has severed ties with a political consultant who has been linked to groups associated with Palestinian terrorist factions.
According to a report by the Washington Examiner, Tlaib's campaign has ended its relationship with Rasha Mubarak. Mubarak's firm, Unbought Power, has received over $435,000 in payments for fundraising consulting since 2020.
The decision to part ways with Mubarak comes after revelations about her connections to organizations with alleged ties to terrorist groups. Mubarak, a longtime ally of Tlaib, has been involved with groups that have sparked controversy due to their associations with Palestinian causes and anti-Israel sentiments. Tlaib's campaign has not disclosed the exact reason for the termination of the working relationship.
Rasha Mubarak's background includes several contentious elements that have raised eyebrows in political circles. She has held key roles in organizations that have been connected to groups designated as terrorist entities by various authorities.
Mubarak's social media activity has also been a source of controversy, with posts criticizing Israel's right to defend itself against terrorism.
In a recent incident, Mubarak was arrested at Disney World in Orlando, Florida, for disrupting a speech by Senator John Fetterman. She was charged with trespassing and is scheduled for a pretrial conference hearing in October. This event further highlighted the activist nature of Mubarak's involvement in pro-Palestinian causes.
Mubarak's professional history includes work with the Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) from 2015 to 2018. CAIR's national organization has faced scrutiny in the past, having been named an unindicted co-conspirator in a terrorism financing case in 2009.
The financial relationship between Tlaib's campaign and Mubarak's firm was substantial. Federal Election Commission filings show that Unbought Power, Mubarak's Florida-based company, received payments totaling over $435,000 from Tlaib's campaign and leadership PAC since 2020. These payments were earmarked for fundraising consulting services.
In addition to her work for Tlaib, Mubarak has also provided consulting services for a joint fundraising committee associated with the group of progressive congresswomen known as "The Squad." The significant amount of money involved in these transactions underscores the importance of the relationship that has now been terminated.
The cessation of this working relationship was confirmed by Tlaib's campaign manager, Carolina Toro-Roman, in an automated email response to a press inquiry. The email stated that the campaign is no longer working with Mubarak's firm and provided contact information for future fundraising assistance.
The separation between Tlaib and Mubarak may signal a shift in how some progressive politicians manage their associations with activists who hold strong anti-Israel positions. Jon Reinish, a veteran Democratic strategist, commented on the situation, suggesting that Mubarak's views must be considered extreme if even Tlaib, known for her criticism of Israel, has decided to distance herself.
Tlaib herself has faced criticism from both Democrats and Republicans for her stance on Israel. She co-founded a group called Black for Palestine that has expressed solidarity with entities considered terrorist organizations by some. Tlaib has also been associated with a secret pro-Hamas group on Facebook and has targeted her campaign ads to readers of Al Jazeera, a Qatari-backed news outlet.
The decision to end the relationship with Mubarak comes at a time when scrutiny of political affiliations and funding sources is intensifying. It reflects the complex landscape of Middle East politics in the United States and the challenges faced by politicians in navigating these sensitive issues.
Representative Rashida Tlaib has ended her campaign's relationship with consultant Rasha Mubarak, whose firm has received over $435,000 for fundraising services since 2020. Mubarak's associations with groups linked to Palestinian causes and her controversial statements have been a source of scrutiny. Tlaib's decision may indicate a reassessment of how progressive politicians manage their connections to activists with strong anti-Israel positions.
