A Florida Republican lawmaker is now under investigation due to his connection to an imam with known ties to the terrorist group Hamas.
Rep. Cory Mills (R-FL), a staunch ally of President Donald Trump, married his wife, Rana Al Saadi, in 2014. The ceremony was officiated by Mohammed Al-Hanooti, an imam with a controversial past.
Al-Hanooti had served as the imam of Dar Al-Hijirah Islamic Center in Virginia, where he made inflammatory speeches calling for violent jihad against non-Muslims. According to Blaze News, the FBI had linked Al-Hanooti to fundraising for Hamas, connections to the Muslim Brotherhood, and possible involvement in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, although he was never indicted. He passed away a year after Mills’ wedding.
At the time, Mills was unaware of the full extent of Al-Hanooti’s background, which was already well known to authorities, according to The Daily Beast.
Mills confirmed to Blaze News that Al-Hanooti officiated his wedding, and the couple is currently in the process of divorcing. However, Mills downplayed the significance of the relationship, claiming, “I didn’t have a relationship with the guy, so I can’t tell you anything other than the fact that he was sick. I don’t know anything about his involvement in the co-conspirator thing.”
He explained that the marriage ceremony was simply a formality because his wife, who is originally from Iraq, was returning to her home country and worried her first husband might claim they were still married without a U.S. marriage certificate. Mills said that Al-Hanooti was willing to sign the certificate, but stressed that the event had no impact on his personal beliefs or religious practices.
“It didn’t change my faith, it didn’t change who I am, it didn’t change the church that I went to,” Mills added, dismissing any further questions as a “hit piece.”
Despite Mills’ insistence on the innocence of the marriage, the connection to an imam linked to terrorist activities has drawn significant attention. Investigators are now looking into whether Mills had any deeper associations with Al-Hanooti, raising more questions about the congressman’s ties to figures connected to extremist groups.
