So we’ve been watching this story for a while, and today it looks like it’s come to a conclusion that undermines a lot of the reporting and curiosity about Imran Awan, the former information technology guy for the Democrats.
Here’s Fox News reporting on it:
Imran Awan, the former IT aide to congressional Democrats whose federal court case has drawn the interest of President Trump and other Republicans, pleaded guilty Tuesday to federal bank fraud in a plea deal where prosecutors said they “uncovered no evidence” that Awan “violated federal law with respect to the House computer systems.”
During a hearing before U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan in Washington, Awan pleaded guilty to making a false statement on a loan application. As part of the deal, the prosecution dropped fraud charges against Awan’s wife, Hina Alvi.
The case has generated interest from Republicans on Capitol Hill, who have suggested Awan could have been involved in a cyber breach operation. But prosecutors said Tuesday they investigated allegations of misconduct by Awan while on the job in Congress and determined federal charges were not warranted.
“Particularly, the government has found no evidence that your client 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 prosecution said in the plea deal.
Prosecutors said the government conducted a “thorough investigation of those allegations.”
Very interesting. So ALL of the really shady facts surrounding this case are just weird coincidences and add up to nothing?
DOJ just blew up the Daily Caller's reporting on Imran Awan. https://t.co/3qjVxZSkPG pic.twitter.com/a6tkofQ2qV
— Gabriel Malor (@gabrielmalor) July 3, 2018
All of the right-wing outlets that demonized Imran Awan and hyped the "Dems' IT scandal" will thoroughly cover this reality check, right? https://t.co/l0b6SrA9TM
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) July 3, 2018
Fmr Hse IT aide Imran Awan was at the center of Hse computer equipment scandal probed by USCP and the feds. There were questions about how Awan accounted for for various computers, iPads, monitors, keyboards, routers. But Awan has never faced other charges besides bank fraud
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 3, 2018
Fox first reported last July 25 that USCP, FBI, and ICE picked up fmr Hse aide Imran Awan trying to leave the country as he was about to board a plane at Dulles airport. Although nearly a year has passed, “bank fraud” is the only thing they have hit Awan with.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) July 3, 2018
The government interviewed 40 witnesses, took custody of the House Democratic Caucus server and other devices, reviewed electronic communications between House employees and questioned Awan during multiple voluntary interviews, the plea deal said.
Awan worked for Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and other Democrats. He admitted in Tuesday’s plea deal to working to obtain home equity lines of credit from the Congressional Federal Credit Union in December 2016 by giving false information about a property.
Yeah I dunno. There was SO much shady stuff going on here, it’s hard to believe that all he did was commit simple bank fraud and ran away. But, without hard evidence, I think we should side against conspiracy theories, and not propagate them just because it helps our political agenda…