The Gülen Movement arranged all-expense-paid trips to Turkey and made campaign donations to 43 of the 88 U.S. congressmen, who in turn signed a template letter sent to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, claiming that media outlets linked to the movement were under pressure in Turkey.
The Gülen Movement, headed by Fethullah Gülen who resides in Pennsylvania in self-imposed exile, owns hundreds of schools around the world, dozens of media organs and other businesses and is accused of infiltrating key state institutions, including the police and judiciary, to wage a campaign against anyone it perceives as an opponent. Gülenist operatives in the U.S. sent several template letters to congressmen, who in turn were urged to forward them to Kerry to apply pressure on the Turkish government.
The congressional sponsors of the letter, which was forwarded on February 2, asked Kerry to take action against Turkey, claiming that Gülen-affiliated media organs were under crackdown. However, an investigation has revealed that the sponsors and almost half of the signatories had benefited from all-expense paid trips organized by several U.S.-based organizations of the movement or received campaign donations through Gülen affiliates. Arizona Republican Representative Matt Salmon, the main sponsor of the letter, was brought to Istanbul and Kayseri provinces in Turkey April 11-19 last year by the Arizona-based Foundation for Inter-Cultural Dialogue (FICD), which belongs to Gülenists. Salmon visited several businessmen and various media organs linked to the Gülen Movement during the trip, which according to congressional records cost $12,000.
The assistant of another sponsor, Missouri Democratic Representative Emanuel Cleaver, visited Istanbul March 14-22 last year, which was paid for by the Turkic-American Alliance (TAA). The TAA is known to conduct lobbying activities on behalf of the movement in Congress. Cleaver's assistant met journalists, businessmen and politicians affiliated with the movement during the trip, which cost $2,610.
Congressional records reveal that 26 congressmen or their aides benefited from the largesse of the Gülen Movement in 2013 and 2014, and all involved signed the letter sent to Kerry, which criticized both Turkey and Azerbaijan. Visits were paid for by TAA sub-branches and other U.S.-based Gülenist organizations, such as the Pacifica Institute.
The movement spent over $180,000 for such trips. The TAA, which was founded in 2010, is currently fed by various U.S. businesses linked to the movement to conduct lobbying activities. TAA Chairman Faruk Taban is known for his efforts to engage representatives and senators for support. Sources close to Congress told Daily Sabah that the movement employed the Armenian and Israel lobby in Congress to persuade the other signatories, who had not directly enjoyed free trips.
According to figures released by the U.S. Federal Election Commission (FEC) in 2013 and 2014, individuals affiliated with the Gülen Movement donated a total of $241,000 in 2013 and 2014 to 25 congressmen who signed the letter. Donations were mostly made by executives of pro-Gülenist institutions and companies and administrators of Charter Schools, which have been criticized for being privately run but publicly funded educational institutions. Gülenists donated a total of $43,500 to Henry Cuellar, a Democratic representative from Texas, in the past two years. Also in Texas, where the group has a strong presence, Democratic representatives Al Green and Sheila Jackson Lee received $46,000 and $23,000, respectively.
Members of the movement also utilize Super PACs, which are nearly impossible to monitor, to gain influence in the U.S. Congress. According to 2012 and 2013 figures, Gülen schools have around 60,000 pupils in the U.S. and receive an average of $10,608 in state funding per student. The annual sum of public funding for the 130 Gülen schools, with names such as Cosmos, Pioneer, Harmony, Magnolia and Horizon, total $636.48 million. These funds are then used by affiliated companies so that the movement profits from both schools and business activities. Gülenist contractors are used to build and equip schools and teachers who are members of the movement and brought over from Turkey with special visas. These teachers hand over most of their wages to the movement.
Visit of congressmen or their representatives
1-Rep. Matt Salmon (R-AZ)
04/11/14-04/19/14 Foundation for Inter-Cultural Dialogue Istanbul, Kayseri, Turkey - Met with Turkish government officials and journalists; visited historical sites. $12,315.00
2-Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Missouri, 5th)
Privately Financed Travel Shapiro, Jennifer G.
03/14/14-03/22/14 Turkic American Alliance Ankara, Turkey - Istanbul, Turkey - Met with various journalists, politicians, businessmen and U.S. government officials to discuss the $2,617.30
3-Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Illinois, 1st)
Marshall, John P.
05/24/13-06/01/13 Turkish American Federation of Midwest Ankara, Turkey
Participated in a staff delegation to Turkey and Azerbaijan; met with government officials, business $4,397.00
Watkins, Stanley (Stan)
04/18/14-04/26/14 Pacifica Institute Ankara, TurkeyCultural Mecca - Cappadocia, Turkey - ... more
Met with Turkish government officials; toured historical sites; met with religious leaders $2,025.0
4-Rep. Danny Davis (D-Illinois, 7th)
Davis, Rep. Danny (D-IL)
05/27/13-05/30/13 Turkish American Federation of Midwest Baku, Azerbaijan
Attended meetings with politicians and government officials to discuss energy-related policies $24,084.00
Brown, Lavell P.
05/25/13-06/01/13 Turkish American Federation of Midwest Ankara, Turkey
Participated in a staff delegation to Turkey and Azerbaijan; met with government officials, business... more $3,607.00
5-Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas, 28th)
Margowsky, Miranda K.
10/17/14-10/25/14 Turkish American Federation of Midwest Istanbul, Turkey - Ankara, Turkey
Toured local universities and newspapers; visited historic sites; met with U.S. and Turkish government... $3,307.17 Travieso, Amy A.
05/24/13-05/31/13 Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians Ankara, Turkey - Istanbul, Turkey - ... more
Participated in U.S. congressional delegation trip to Turkey and Azerbaijan; attended briefings; met... more $5,290.00
Cuellar, Rep. Henry (D-TX)
01/06/13-01/13/13 Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians Istanbul, Turkey - Baku, Azerbaijan
Participated in a congressional delegation to Turkey and Azerbaijan; visited cultural and historic s... more $26,145.26
6- Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Illinois, 3rd)
Day, Jason O.
10/17/14-10/25/14 Turkish American Federation of Midwest Ankara, Turkey - Istanbul, Turkey
Toured local universities and newspapers; visited historic sites; met with U.S. and Turkish government... $3,307.17
7-Rep. Jackie Speier (D-California, 14th)
Hashemi, Cookab Vontenc
04/18/14-04/26/14 Pacifica Institute Ankara, Turkey - Cappadocia, Turkey - ...
Met with Turkish government officials; toured historical sites; met with religious leaders $2,025.00
Ryan, Erin M.
12/13/13-12/22/13 Pacifica Institute Ankara, Turkey - Istanbul, Turkey
Visited historic and religious sites; met with Turkish officials $4,725.00
8-Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D-North Carolina, 1st)
Hernandez, Saul Z.
04/27/13-05/05/13 Mid-Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations Ankara, Turkey - Istanbul, Turkey - ...
Participated in congressional trip to Turkey; met with academics, government officials, local citizens... $2,580.00
9-Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Missouri, 1st)
Jamry, Pauline Margaret
05/09/14-05/17/14 Turkish American Federation of Midwest Ankara, Turkey - Istanbul, Turkey - ... more
Met Turkish doctors, businessmen, journalists, politicians and educators. $3,667.6
10-Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas, 18th)
Jackson Lee, Rep. Sheila (D-TX)
05/27/13-05/30/13 Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians Baku, Azerbaijan
Participated in U.S. congressional delegation trip to Turkey and Azerbaijan; attended briefings; met... $12,033.90
11-Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Illinois, 4th)
Paucar, Theresa
08/22/14-08/30/14 Turkish American Federation of Midwest Ankara, Turkey - Istanbul, Turkey
Met with government officials and Turkish civilians to discuss U.S.-Turkish relations; visited histo... more $3,576.64
12-Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Kentucky, 2nd)
Miller, Joel Glen
04/18/14-04/27/14 Mid-Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations Ankara, Turkey - Istanbul, Turkey
Met with Turkish officials regarding U.S.-Turkey relations $2,580.00
13-Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio, 6th)
Orth, Patrick F. (Pat)
03/14/14-03/22/14 Turkic American Alliance Ankara, TurkeyCultural Mecca - Istanbul, Turkey - ...
Met with various journalists, politicians, businessmen and U.S. government officials to discuss the ... $2,617.30
14-Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Arizona, 4th)
Van Flein, Thomas V. (Tom)
12/13/13-12/22/13 Pacifica Institute Ankara, Turkey - Ephesus, Turkey - ... more
Visited historic and religious sites; met with Turkish officials $4,700.00
15-Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Texas, 34th)
Brody, Perry Finney
04/18/14-04/26/14 Pacifica Institute Ankara, Turkey - Cappadocia, Turkey - ... more
Met with Turkish government officials; toured historical sites; met with religious leaders
16-Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK)
Bridenstine, Rep. Jim (R-OK)
05/26/13-05/31/13 Turquoise Council of Americans and Eurasians Baku, Azerbaijan
Participated in U.S. Congressional Delegation Trip to Azerbaijan; attended briefings; met with gover... more $14,172.70
17-Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-Louisiana, 2nd)
Butterworth, Austin Zach (Zach)
05/24/13-06/02/13 Turkic American Alliance Ankara, Turkey - Istanbul, Turkey - ... more
Met with local business, political and non-governmental leaders and associations $4,055.00
18-Rep. George Holding (R-North Carolina, 13th)
Knott, Joseph Tucker (Tucker)
04/18/14-04/27/14 Mid-Atlantic Federation of Turkic American Associations Ankara, Turkey - Istanbul, Turkey - ... more
Met with Turkish officials regarding U.S.-Turkey relations $2,580.00
19-Rep. John J. Duncan (R-Tennessee, 2nd)
Black, David D.
05/25/13-05/30/13 Turkic American Federation of the Southeast Baku, Azerbaijan - Istanbul, Turkey
Met with national politicians from Turkey and Azerbaijan, as well as business leaders and local citi... more $2,655.00
20-Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Michigan, 5th)
Nienberg, Troy M.
08/22/14-08/30/14 Turkish American Federation of Midwest Ankara, Turkey - Istanbul, Turkey
Met with government officials and Turkish civilians to discuss U.S.-Turkish relations; visited histo... more $3,565.6
21-Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Alabama, 5th)
Vandiver, Lauren K.
05/24/13-06/02/13 Turkic American Alliance Ankara, Turkey - Istanbul, Turkey - ... more
Met with local business, political and non-governmental leaders and associations $4,055.00
22-Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-California, 32nd)
Chao, Daniel See
04/18/14-04/26/14 Pacifica Institute Istanbul, Turkey - Cappadocia, Turkey - ... more
Met with Turkish government officials; toured historical sites; met with religious leaders $1,725.00
23-Rep. Mike Honda (D-California, 17th)
Honda, Rep. Mike (D-CA)
08/20/13-08/28/13 Pacifica Institute Istanbul, Turkey
Met with Turkish government officials, local business leaders and U.S. government officials; toured ... more $5,675.00
24-Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Arizona, 3rd)
Villa, Cristina M.
12/13/13-12/22/13 Pacifica Institute Ankara, Turkey - Istanbul, Turkey - ... more
Visited historic and religious sites; met with Turkish officials $4,725.0
25-Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-California, 19th)
Leavandosky, Stacey E.
12/13/13-12/22/13 Pacifica Institute Ankara, Turkey - Istanbul, Turkey - ... more
Visited historic and religious sites; met with Turkish officials $4,725.00
26- Rep. Darrell Issa (R-California, 49th)
LoFranco, Justin Vincent
05/24/13-06/02/13 Turkic American Alliance Ankara, Turkey - Baku, Azerbaijan - ... more
Met with local business, political and non-governmental leaders and associations $6,110.00
