The NEFA Foundation has released a new "Spot Report" in the wake of the March 26, 2008 indictment of Muthanna al-Hanooti, the long-time public relations coordinator for Life for Relief and Development (LRD), a charitable organization based in Southfield, Michigan. The Department of Justice alleges that in the late 1990s, the Iraqi Intelligence Service (IIS) "targeted LRD and...al-Hanooti to cooperate with and serve the IIS."

The report provides photographic evidence of the remarkable access that LRD was able to secure to government officials, both in the U.S. and abroad. For instance, al-Hanooti is pictured with the Governor of Michigan, the President of Syria, and a British MP. Moreover, LRD's leadership can be seen with high-ranking U.S. law enforcement officials, such as then-U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan and the Special Agent in Charge of ICE's Detroit field office, as well as the U.S. Ambassador to Syria. LRD further secured access to members of Congress, including John Conyers, who is pictured at LRD's office.  READ REPORT PDF