A documentary film project focusing on the Gülenist Terror Group (FETÖ) web of charter schools in the United States exposes a list of high-level U.S. officials who went on trips to Turkey between 2006 and 2013 that were reportedly funded by FETÖ.
The list exposed by the film "Killing Ed" shows senators, congressman, mayors, justices, police officials and other officials, including U.S. Senator Richard Lugar (Indiana) and Governor Bill Richardson (New Mexico), who visited Turkey. The trips, which reportedly cost about $15,000-$30,000 per person, were funded by Gülenist groups in the U.S.
Although politicians are obliged to report any sorts of donations received to U.S. authorities, "Killing Ed" claims that these trips were not deemed as donations, but rather were classified as friendship gestures or educational activities.
The pre-2013 controversial trips raise questions concerning links between U.S. politicians and terror-cult activities, including issues related to campaign funding from FETÖ-linked organizations in the United States. A politician in the U.S. must raise a significant amount of money to run an election campaign. House members, on average, need to raise $1.5 million, and Senators need to raise $6-10 million on average.
No member of Congress "has accepted a privately sponsored trip to Turkey since May 2015, with the exception of one congressman who made an August trip sponsored by a Norwegian group," according to an article in USA Today.
An Office of Congressional Ethics probe in 2015 revealed that Gülen-linked organizations hid the true source of funding for nearly 200 trips.
According to data collected by USA Today, the number of privately funded trips to Turkey in 2010 fell to just 100 by the second half of 2015.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation also launched a probe into FETÖ charter schools amid accusations of financial and legal corruption.
On July 15, a Gülenist faction, led by the U.S.-based figure Fetullah Gülen, within the Turkish military attempted a deadly coup that killed more than 240 people and injured nearly 2,200 others.
Regarding Gülen's extradition to Turkey, Ankara has submitted repeated formal requests along with boxes of evidence to the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as information that illustrates the group's well-known motives to directly target Turkey's democratically elected government. Testimony from leading figures involved in the coup attempt point to Gülen as being responsible for the attempted coup, but America continues to display reluctance with regards to his extradition, demanding that Turkey provide "hard evidence."
Below is a list of officials that went on trips to Turkey paid by the Gülenist terror cult:
US Senator Richard Lugar (Indiana)
US Congressman Bob Filner (California)
Mayor Bill White, Houston (Texas)
US Congressman Matt Salmon (Arizona)
Sheriff Leroy D. Baca (Los Angeles County)
US Congressman Ted Poe (Texas)
US Congressman Henry Cuellar (Texas)
US Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas)
Director Vernon Keenan, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (Georgia)
US Congressman Steve Stockman (Texas)
US Congressman Rubin Hinojosa (Texas)
Mayor Will Wynn, Austin (Texas)
Mayor Kip Holden, Baton Rouge (Louisiana)
US Congressman Mike Honda (California)
Secretary of State Debra Bowen (California)
State Senator Leticia van de Putte (Texas)
State Rep. Donna Howard (Texas)
State Rep. Mark Strama (Texas)
Super. of Public Education Suellen Reed (Indiana)
Austin ISD Superintendent Meria Carstarphen (Texas)
Sheriff John Rutherford, Jacksonville (Florida)
Sheriff Thomas Brown, DeKalb County (Georgia)
State Senator Alma Allen (Texas)
Police Chief Rick Rappoport, Fairfax (Virginia)
US Congressman Hank Johnson (Georgia)
Secretary of State Mark Martin (Arkansas)
Mayor Keith Curry, Newport Beach (California)
Mayor Jeffrey Jennings, Malibu (California)
Justice Cruz Reynosa, Supreme Court (California)
Mayor Edna Jackson, Savannah (Georgia)
Mayor Anthany Beatty, Lexington (Kentucky)
Speaker Pro Tem Patricia Haddad (Massachusetts)
US Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (Missouri)
Secretary of State Linda McCulloch (Montana)
Lt. Gov. Brian Krolicki (Nevada)
Chief of Police Michael Poehlman, Reno (Nevada)
Governor Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire)
Sheriff Leo P. McGuire, Bergen County (New Jersey)
Governor Bill Richardson (New Mexico)
Congresswoman Michelle Grisham (New Mexico)
Congressman Gregory Meeks (New York)
House Speaker Thom Tillis (N. Carolina)
Congressman Jim Bridenstine (Oklahoma)
Secretary of State Susan Savage (Oklahoma)
Attorney General Drew Edmondson (Oklahoma)
Deputy Director Tom Jordan, Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation
Chief of Police Phil Cotten, Norman (Oklahoma)
Mayor Kristin Szakos, Charlottesville (Virginia)
Transportation Secretary Sean T. Connaughton (Virginia)
Mayor William D. Euille, Alexandria (Virginia)
Mayor Robert W. Lazaro Jr., Purcellville (Virginia)
Exec. Director Mark Gibb, N. Virginia Regional Comm. (Virginia)
Constable Bruce Elfant, Travis County (Texas)
Mayor David Wallace, Sugarland (Texas)
State Senator Alma Allen (Texas)
Police Chief Rick Rappoport, Fairfax (Virginia)
Secretary of State Doug La Follette (Wisconsin)
State Rep. David Lujan (Arizona)
State Rep. Theresa Ulmer (Arizona)
State Senator Linda Grey (Arizona)
State Rep. Steve Farley (Arizona)
State Rep. Ed Ableser (Arizona)
State Rep. Jackie Thrasher (Arizona)
State Senator Michele Reagan (Arizona)
State Rep. Karen Hopper (Arkansas)
State Rep. George McGill (Arkansas)
State Senator Bob Huff (California)
State Rep. Cherylin Peniston (Colorado)
Attorney General John William Suthers (Colorado)
State Rep. Susan Ryden (Colorado)
State Rep. Jennifer Carroll (Florida)
State Rep. Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed (Florida)
State Senator Rene Garcia (Florida)
Public Defender Carlos J. Martinez, Miami-Dade (Florida)
Mayor Thomas Masters, Riviera Beach (Florida)
Judge Ivonne Cuesta, Miami-Dade (Florida)
State Rep. John Daffendaugh (Georgia)
State Rep. Tom Taylor (Georgia)
State Rep. Ron Stephens (Georgia)
State Senator Jeff Mullis (Georgia)
State Senator Donzella James (Georgia)
State Senator Gloria Butler (Georgia)
State Senator Valencia Seay (Georgia)
State Senator Horacena Tate (Georgia)
State Senator Miriam Paris (Georgia)
State Senator Nan Orrick (Georgia)
State Rep. Michele Henson (Georgia)
Mayor Heidi Davison, Athens (Georgia)
State Senator J. Kalani English (Hawaii)
State Senator Brent Hill (Idaho)
State Senator John McGee (Idaho)
State Senator Diane Bilyeu (Idaho)
State Senator Lee Heider (Idaho)
State Rep. Janice McGeachin (Idaho)
State Senator Curt McKenzie (Idaho)
State Rep. Donna Pence (Idaho)
State Rep. Joe Stegner (Idaho)
State Senator Michelle Stennett (Idaho)
State Senator John Tippetts (Idaho)
State Rep. Dennis Lake (Idaho)
State Senator Edgar Malepeai (Idaho)
State Rep. John Rusche (Idaho)
State Senator Brandt Hershman (Indiana)
State Senator Vi Simpson (Indiana)
State Senator Jim Arnold (Indiana)
State Senator Karen Tallian (Indiana)
State Senator Jim Lewis (Indiana)
State Rep. Linda Lawson (Indiana)
State Rep. Vernon Smith (Indiana)
State Senator Roger Katz (Maine)
State Rep. Karen Kusiak (Maine)
State Rep. Dennis Lee Keschl (Maine)
State Senator Joseph Brannigan (Maine)
State Senator Dennis Keschl (Maine)
State Rep. Jane Knapp (Maine)
Delegate Gail Bates (Maryland)
Secretary of State John P. McDonough (Maryland)
State Senator James M. Robey (Maryland)
State Senator Verna Jones-Rodwell (Maryland)
State Rep. Kay Khan (Massachusetts)
State Rep. Sarah Peake (Massachusetts)
State Rep. Gailanne Cariddi (Massachusetts)
Mayor Bryan Barnett, Rochester Hills (Michigan)
State Senator Sandy Pappas (Minnesota)
State Rep. Jerry Newton (Minnesota)
State Senator Claire Robling (Minnesota)
State Senator Phil Riveness (Minnesota)
State Senator Harry Kennedy (Missouri)
State Senator Jolie Justus (Missouri)
Prosecutor Beth Murano, Kansas City (Missouri)
State Senator Amanda McGill (Nebraska)
State Senator Brenda Council (Nebraska)
State Senator Tanya Cook (Nebraska)
State Rep. Lenette Peterson (New Hampshire)
State Rep. Wyman E. Shuler III (New Hampshire)
State Senator Loretta Weinberg (New Jersey)
Assemblyman Upendra J. Chivukula (New Jersey)
Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (New Jersey)
State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino (New Mexico)
Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings (New Mexico)
State Senator George Munoz (New Mexico)
State Rep. Debbie Rodella (New Mexico)
State Senator Dede Feldman (New Mexico)
State Senator Cisco McSorley (New Mexico)
State Senator Eric Griego (New Mexico)
Assemblyman Kevin Cahill (New York)
Majority Leader Ron Canestrari (New York)
Assemblyman Steven Cymbrowitz (New York)
State Senator Suzi Oppenheimer (New York)
State Rep. Tim Moore (N. Carolina)
State Rep. Chuck McGrady (N. Carolina)
State Rep. Mitch Gillespie (N. Carolina)
State Rep. Corey Mock (N. Dakota)
State Rep. Ben Hanson (N. Dakota)
State Rep. Larry Klemin (N. Dakota)
State Rep. Lois Delmore (N. Dakota)
State Senator Phil Murphy (N. Dakota)
State Senator David O'Connell (N. Dakota)
State Rep. Cliff Rosenberger (Ohio)
State Rep. Peter Beck (Ohio)
State Rep. Bob Peterson (Ohio)
State Rep. John Trebilcock (Oklahoma)
State Rep. Tom Newell (Oklahoma)
State Senator Cliff Aldridge (Oklahoma)
Chief Chad Smith, Cherokee Nation (Oklahoma)
State Senator Sean Burrage (Oklahoma)
State Senator Gary Stanislawski (Oklahoma)
State Senator Mike Brubaker (Pennsylvania)
State Senator David Argall (Pennsylvania)
State Senator Creighton Coleman (S. Carolina)
State Senator Mike Fair (S. Carolina)
State Senator Brad Hutto (S. Carolina)
State Senator John Land (S. Carolina)
State Senator Phil Leventis (S. Carolina)
State Senator John Matthews (S. Carolina)
State Senator Mike Rose (S. Carolina)
State Senator Vince Sheheen (S. Carolina)
State Senator Bill Ketron (Tennessee)
Councilman Myron Lowery, Memphis (Tennessee)
State Rep. Antonio Parkinson (Tennessee)
State Rep. Harry Brooks (Tennessee)
State Rep. Joe Armstrong (Tennessee)
State Senator Reginald Tate (Tennessee)
State Rep. Josh Evans (Tennessee)
State Rep. Gary Odom (Tennessee)
State Rep. Mark White (Tennessee)
State Senator Stacey Campfield (Tennessee)
State Senator Brian Kelsey (Tennessee)
State Rep. Vance Dennis (Tennessee)
State Rep. Roger Kane (Tennessee)
State Rep. Joe Towns (Tennessee)
State Rep. Johnnie Turner (Tennessee)
State Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver (Tennessee)
State Senator Rodney Ellis (Texas)
State Rep. Eliott Naishtat (Texas)
State Rep. Valinda Bolton (Texas)
State Senator Eddie Lucio (Texas)
State Senator Tory Fraser (Texas)
Judge Bob Hebert, Fort Bend County (Texas)
State Rep. Senfronia Thompson (Texas)
State Rep. Pete Gallego (Texas)
State Rep. Jean O'Sullivan (Vermont)
State Rep. Michael Yantachka (Vermont)
Fairfax County Supervisor John Cook (Virginia)
Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust (Virginia)
Fairfax County Attorney David Bobzien (Virginia)
Chairman Sharon S. Bulova, Fairfax County (Virginia)
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