Imran Awan

Awan was born in Pakistan in 1980.{{cite web |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/fbi-arrests-us-lawmakers-pakistan-born-it-aide-imran-awan-for-bank-fraud/782276/ |title=FBI arrests US lawmaker's Pakistan-born IT aide Imran Awan for bank fraud |date=July 27, 2017 |work=Financial Express |accessdate=August 12, 2017}} He won a green card for himself and his family in the green card lottery when he was 14.{{cite news |last=Boburg |first=Shawn |title=Federal probe into House technology worker Imran Awan yields intrigue, no evidence of espionage |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/federal-probe-into-house-technology-worker-imran-awan-yields-intrigue-no-evidence-of-espionage/2017/09/16/100b4170-93f2-11e7-b9bc-b2f7903bab0d_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=September 16, 2017 |accessdate=September 16, 2017}} After emigrating to the U.S. in 1997, Awan worked at a fast-food restaurant while attending community college, then transferred to Johns Hopkins University where he earned a degree in information technology. He became a U.S. citizen in 2004{{cite news |last=Sherman |first=Amy |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article167933277.html |title=Wasserman Schultz's former IT worker and his wife indicted in bank-fraud scheme |date=August 18, 2017 |work=Miami Herald |accessdate=August 19, 2017}} and resided in Lorton, Virginia.{{cite web |last=Reid |first=Paula |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-wasserman-schultz-staffer-arrested-for-charges-of-bank-fraud/ |title=Former Wasserman Schultz IT staffer arrested on charges of bank fraud |publisher=CBS News |date=July 26, 2017 |accessdate=July 28, 2017}}{{cite web |last=Watkins |first=Eli |title=Democratic staffer arrested on bank fraud charge |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2017/07/26/politics/imran-awan-house-democrats/index.html |publisher=BuzzFeed News |date=July 27, 2017 |accessdate=August 11, 2017}}

Awan started working on Capitol Hill in January 2004 as an information technology director for Robert Wexler.{{cite news |last=Fandos |first=Nicholas |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/28/us/politics/imran-awan-debbie-wasserman-shultz-pakistan.html |title=Trump Fuels Intrigue Surrounding a Former I.T. Worker's Arrest |work=The New York Times |date=July 28, 2017 |accessdate=July 29, 2017}} His wife Hina Alvi, his two brothers, a sister-in-law, and two friends also worked as congressional information technology staffers. Awan worked as a shared employee, providing technical support for 25 other House Democrats.

In March 2016, House auditors noticed some purchases for computer equipment were broken into multiple parts below $500, and left off the House inventory. Some of this equipment was delivered to the Awan brothers' house.

On February 2, 2017, the Sergeant-at-Arms briefed top staffers for members of Congress that the U.S. Capitol Police were conducting an active criminal investigation into the actions of five House IT employees — four men and a woman — who were being investigated allegations of procurement scam and violating the House IT network rules. Subsequently, it was also revealed to the general public that there was an ongoing investigation. These five employees were barred from the computer networks at the House of Representatives.{{cite web |last=Caygle |first=Heather |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/house-staffers-investigation-equipment-234586 |title=House staffers under criminal investigation for alleged equipment theft |work=Politico |date=February 2, 2017 |accessdate=September 3, 2017}}

Later Awan, his wife, Hina Alvi, his two brothers and his friend were named as the five IT staffers being investigated. Given the suspected violations, most of the congress members terminated Awan's services; Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz from Florida, however, continued to employ Awan in an advisory role.{{cite web |last=Caygle |first=Heather |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/house-staff-criminal-investigation-234714 |title=House staffers under criminal investigation still employed |work=Politico |date=February 6, 2017 |accessdate=July 27, 2017}}{{cite web |last1=Daugherty |first1=Alex |last2=Sherman |first2=Amy |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/article163818253.html |title=Wasserman Schultz kept paying tech expert suspected of stealing House computers |publisher=The McClatchy Company |work=Miami Herald |date=July 26, 2017 |accessdate=July 27, 2017}}

On March 5, 2017, the FBI and Capitol Police stopped Awan's wife, Hina Alvi, at Washington Dulles International Airport. They allowed her and her three children to get on the flight to Lahore.{{cite news |last=Hsu |first=Spencer S. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/congressional-it-staffer-charged-with-home-equity-loan-fraud/2017/07/26/f5f402e8-71a7-11e7-9eac-d56bd5568db8_story.html |title=Congressional IT staffer charged with home equity loan fraud |publisher=Nash Holdings |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=July 26, 2017 |accessdate=July 28, 2017}}

A government investigation led by U.S. Attorney Jessie K. Liu included forensic analysis of computer equipment and data, as well as interviews with about 40 witnesses. The investigation addressed various right-wing conspiracy theories about Awan, concluding that it had "found no evidence that [Awan] illegally removed House data from the House network or from House Members' offices, stole the House Democratic Caucus Server, stole or destroyed House information technology equipment, or improperly accessed or transferred government information, including classified or sensitive information." The investigation found no evidence of ties between Awan and a foreign intelligence agency targeting Congress, or between Awan and an alleged criminal ring that stole equipment from Democratic lawmakers.{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/03/imran-awan-pleads-guilty-692394 |title=Ex-Dem IT staffer slammed by Trump pleads guilty to bank fraud |work=POLITICO |date=July 3, 2018 |access-date=July 3, 2018 |language=en}} The investigators stated, "the government has uncovered no evidence that [Imran Awan] violated federal law with respect to the House computer system".{{Cite news |last=Leary |first=Alex |url=https://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/07/03/federal-prosecutors-debunk-conspiracy-theory-involving-ex-wasserman-schultz-aide/ |title=Federal prosecutors debunk conspiracy theory involving ex-Wasserman Schultz aide |work=Tampa Bay Times |date=July 3, 2018 |access-date=July 3, 2018 |language=en-US}}

On July 24, 2017, the FBI and U.S. Capitol Police arrested Awan at Washington Dulles International Airport.{{cite web |last=Watkins |first=Eli |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/26/politics/imran-awan-house-democrats/index.html |title=Democratic staffer arrested on bank fraud charge |publisher=Turner Broadcasting System |work=CNN |date=July 27, 2017 |accessdate=July 28, 2017}} He had previously purchased a ticket to Lahore, Pakistan, with a return flight in January 2018.{{cite web |last1=Pergram |first1=Chad |last2=Gibson |first2=Jake |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/feds-arrest-it-staffer-for-wasserman-schultz-trying-to-leave-country |title=Feds arrest IT staffer for Wasserman Schultz trying to leave country |date=July 25, 2017 |publisher=Fox News |access-date=July 27, 2017}}{{cite web |last1=Caygle |first1=Heather |last2=Bresnahan |first2=John |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/07/25/debbie-wasserman-schultz-aide-arrest-240960 |title=Wasserman Schultz aide arrested trying to leave the country |work=Politico |date=July 25, 2017 |accessdate=July 27, 2017}} Awan was arraigned the following day and pleaded not guilty to one count of bank fraud. He was ordered to surrender his passports, abide by a curfew, and wear a GPS device. Wasserman-Schultz fired Awan on July 25 after learning about his arrest.{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/wasserman-schultz-fires-staffer-following-fraud-arrest-125427981--politics.html |title=Wasserman Schultz Fires IT Staffer Following Fraud Arrest |agency=Associated Press |date=July 27, 2017 |accessdate=July 28, 2017 |archive-date=July 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726165601/https://www.yahoo.com/news/wasserman-schultz-fires-staffer-following-fraud-arrest-125427981--politics.html |url-status=dead }}

On August 17, 2017, a federal grand jury, convened in U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, indicted Awan and his wife on four counts, including conspiracy, making false statements, bank fraud, and unlawful monetary transactions.{{cite news |last=Gibson |first=Jake |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/case-against-wasserman-schultz-ex-it-aide-expands-with-4-count-indictment |title=Wasserman Schultz' ex-IT aide indicted on 4 counts |date=August 17, 2017 |publisher=Fox News |access-date=August 17, 2017}}{{cite web |last=Bresnahan |first=John |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/17/new-charges-house-it-aide-241756 |title=Charges revised against ex-Wasserman Schultz aide |work=Politico |date=August 17, 2017 |accessdate=August 17, 2017}} They were charged with conspiring to obtain home equity loans for $165,000 and $120,000 from the Wright Patman Congressional Federal Credit Union in Oakton, Virginia and transferring the money to Pakistan.{{cite web |last=Man |first=Anthony |url=http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/fl-reg-imran-awan-indicted-20170817-story.html |title=Federal grand jury indicts former Wasserman Schultz aide Imran Awan |work=Sun Sentinel |date=August 17, 2017 |accessdate=August 26, 2017}} In January 2017 the couple had wired $283,000 from Alvi's credit union checking account to two people in Faisalabad. The indictment made no mention of an investigation related to procurement theft.

On September 1, 2017, Awan pleaded not guilty to all of these charges.{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/politics/ex-it-aide-for-wasserman-schultz-pleads-not-guilty |title=Ex-IT aide for Wasserman Schultz pleads not guilty |date=September 1, 2017 |publisher=Fox News |access-date=September 4, 2017}} The investigation concluded in early July 2018 with Awan pleading guilty to making a false statement on a bank loan application. Awan had filed a loan application in the name of his wife, Hina Alvi, with a property as equity, but falsely claimed that the property in question was Alvi's primary residence when it was in fact being rented out by Alvi. Awan's attorney said that Awan made the false statement in order to obtain the loan quickly so that he could quickly transfer money to relatives in Pakistan to help his father, who was gravely ill and living in Virginia. On August 21, 2018, District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan sentenced Awan to his time served, plus three months of supervision.{{cite news |last=Shortell |first=David |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/21/politics/imran-awan-sentencing/index.html |title=Former House IT staffer at center of debunked conspiracy theories avoids jail time |publisher=CNN |date=August 21, 2018 |accessdate=August 22, 2018}}

Throughout the government investigation, some conservative media outlets, most notably The Daily Caller, spread allegations and conspiracy theories about Awan. These outlets alleged that Awan had had unauthorized access to classified government data, and that he had provided to the Pakistani government and/or leaked some of that information.{{cite news |url=https://gizmodo.com/feds-debunk-it-staffer-conspiracy-theory-pushed-by-the-1827322016 |title=Feds Debunk IT Staffer Conspiracy Theory Pushed by The Daily Caller and Trump |last=Cameron |first=Dell |work=Gizmodo |date=July 3, 2018 |access-date=July 3, 2018 |language=en-US}} This included the hacking of the Democratic National Committee server in 2015 and 2016, for which the U.S. intelligence community concluded Russia was responsible. Luke Rosiak, who led The Daily Caller's coverage of Awan, stated in April 2018 that the affair was "straight out of James Bond." The coverage often included reports on Awan's personal finances, his business dealings, and family disputes.

President Donald Trump called for Awan to be investigated for espionage in several posts on Twitter, including one in April 2018 when he referred to Awan as the "Pakistani mystery man", and another in June 2018 when he wrote, "Our Justice Department must not let Awan & Debbie Wasserman Schultz off the hook." Days after Awan was cleared of espionage accusations, Trump mentioned the conspiracy theory during a press conference with Vladimir Putin at a summit in Helsinki, asking "what happened to the servers of the Pakistani gentleman that worked on the DNC?" Trump had been asked if he believed Putin or American intelligence regarding 2016 election interference.{{cite news |last=Timm |first=Jane C. |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/fact-check-trump-promoted-conspiracy-theories-here-s-truth-n891756 |title=Fact check: Trump promoted conspiracy theories. Here's the truth. |publisher=NBC News |date=July 16, 2018 |accessdate=July 17, 2018}}{{cite magazine |last=Simon |first=Abigail |url=https://time.com/5340387/donald-trump-vladimir-putin-russia-conspiracy-theory/ |title=President Trump Gave a Nod to a 2016 Conspiracy Theory in Helsinki |magazine=Time |date=July 16, 2018 |access-date=July 17, 2018}} The judge who sentenced Awan in the bank fraud case criticized these conspiracy theories, calling them "an unbelievable onslaught of scurrilous media attacks to which he and his family have been subjected," adding there had been "accusations lobbed at him from the highest branches of the government, all of which have been proved to be without foundation by the FBI and the Department of Justice."

In January 2020, Awan and four associates filed a lawsuit against Rosiak, The Daily Caller and Regnery Publishing in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia alleging defamation and unjust enrichment.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/legal-issues/ex-congressional-staffer-alleges-defamation-by-reporter-conservative-media-outlets/2020/01/28/0bd5181a-4200-11ea-b5fc-eefa848cde99_story.html |title=Ex-congressional staffer alleges defamation by reporter, conservative media outlets |newspaper=The Washington Post |last=Hsu |first=Spencer S. |date=January 28, 2020 |accessdate=January 29, 2020}}{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/01/29/politics/house-it-staffer-sues-daily-caller/index.html |title=Former House IT staffer at center of debunked conspiracy theory sues The Daily Caller |publisher=CNN |first=David |last=Shortell |date=January 29, 2020 |accessdate=January 29, 2020}} In an interview with The Daily Beast, Awan accused these conservative outlets of essentially destroying his life, and said he believed he was targeted because he was a Muslim immigrant.{{cite web |last1=Sommer |first1=Will |title=Former House Staffer Opens Up About How Conservative Media Ruined His Life |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/former-house-staffer-opens-up-about-how-conservative-media-ruined-his-life |website=The Daily Beast |language=en |date=January 10, 2022 |accessdate=November 20, 2023}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170319230906/http://congressional-staff.insidegov.com/l/22830/Imran-Awan Imran Awan] on Inside Gov
• [http://gowenrhoades.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/20170727-Awan-Statement.pdf Gowen Rhoades Winograd & Silva PLLC: Chris Gowen: Statement on the Imran Awan Case] (July 27, 2017)
• [https://www.trbas.com/media/media/acrobat/2017-08/70202225250080-17151530.pdf The Grand Jury's indictment]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Awan, Imran}}

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:American computer specialists

Category:Muslims from Virginia

Category:Pakistani emigrants to the United States

Category:Employees of the United States House of Representatives

Category:Johns Hopkins University alumni

Category:American people convicted of making false statements

Category:People from Lorton, Virginia

Category:Conspiracy theories in the United States

Category:Naturalized citizens of the United States