Bottom Line Up Front

The anatomy of Qatari foreign influence, as described by businessman Alan Bender and Imam Mohammed Tawhidi (“Imam of Peace”) in 2019, functions as a cyclical six-part operation:

1. Capital injection thorugh untraceable funding, such as cash bags and third-party apps, to secure influence.
2. Proxy placement to elevate compromised or ideologically aligned individuals into key legislative and media positions.
3. Intelligence extraction, where these proxies leverage congressional committee access to obtain sensitive information for foreign adversaries.
4. Legislative influence to advance specific foreign agendas through pre-directed questioning and the curation of witnesses.
5. Media cover to buy the silence of investigative outlets while simultaneously funding proxy networks for narrative control.
6. Whistleblower targeting through cyber warfare, blackmail, and coordinated character assassination to neutralize critics and protect the integrity of the network.

This architecture is designed to protect the “capital loop” and ensure the continued efficacy of the alleged foreign interference operation

Detail

In a November 27, 2019, livestream broadcast from Budapest, Hungary, Imam Mohammed Tawhidi—widely known as the “Imam of Peace”—made explosive allegations about foreign interference in American institutions.

Tawhidi centered his remarks on a federal lawsuit deposition given by Canadian businessman Alan Bender.

Bender and Tawhidi both claimed that U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) functions as a paid asset of the Qatari government.

Tawhidi further alleged that Qatar maintains a network of influence within Congress and U.S. media, and that he himself has been targeted for character assassination at Omar’s request.

Allegations Against Rep. Ilhan Omar

Tawhidi and the Bender deposition paint a picture of Omar as deeply compromised by Qatari interests:

• Qatari Asset and Funding: Tawhidi asserted that Omar was “made by” Qatar and is “fully funded” by the Gulf state. According to Bender’s testimony, Qatari officials described her election as an “appointment” and referred to her as their “Trojan horse” and the “jewel of the Crown.” Bender claimed Qatar is her “main source of money,” delivering funds through PayPal, third-party messengers, and cash in bags.

• Espionage and Information Sharing: Both sources allege that Omar passes classified and sensitive information obtained through her congressional committees to Qatar, which then shares it with Iran and Hezbollah.
• Influence Operations: Omar is accused of bringing witnesses to testify before Congress to advance Qatar’s agenda, asking pre-directed questions in hearings, and advocating for leniency toward individuals tied to the Muslim Brotherhood. Bender also claimed she was used to recruit other U.S. senators.
• Personal Allegiances and Vulnerabilities: Bender testified that Omar’s true allegiance is to Qatar rather than the United States. He alleged she swore allegiance to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood (referred to by Qataris as “Sister Ilhan”), and is controlled through compromising information—including her father’s past as a violent interrogator in Somalia and allegations related to her personal life.
• Request for Character Assassination: Tawhidi specifically claimed that Omar requested his “destruction,” triggering a year-long media campaign against him by Qatari-funded outlets.

Qatar’s Alleged Influence Network

Tawhidi described a broader Qatari operation aimed at U.S. institutions:

• A so-called “Qatari gang” in Washington, D.C., allegedly including Omar, Linda Sarsour, and Rashida Tlaib.
• Attempts to recruit Alan Bender to manage Qatari and Muslim Brotherhood operations in the U.S. and Canada.
• Efforts to sow discord between Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner.
• A federal lawsuit alleging that Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani, brother of Qatar’s Emir, tried to coerce a security guard into murdering American citizens.
• Weekly cyber attacks and blackmail attempts against Tawhidi.

Tawhidi also claimed Qatar’s influence extends across party lines, with both Democrats and Republicans allegedly on its payroll.

Allegations Involving U.S. Media

• CNN’s Vicky Ward allegedly received $500,000 from Qatar in a Manhattan hotel to remain silent on related stories.
• Some conservative journalists and Republican editors reportedly traded evidence of Qatari meddling for deals with the Qatari embassy instead of publishing it.
• Outlets such as The New York Times and The Washington Post were criticized for ignoring the Bender deposition.
• Qatari-funded networks including Al Jazeera, The Intercept, Middle East Eye, and Al-Araby were accused of coordinating a character assassination campaign against Tawhidi.

Corroborating Witnesses

• Alan Bender, a Canadian businessman, provided the core testimony in an October 23, 2019, videotaped deposition for the case Pittard et al. v. H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani et al. (Case No. 8:19-cv-1784, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida). Bender claimed first-hand conversations with Qatari officials who openly discussed their relationship with Omar.
• A second unnamed witness, described as a doctor residing in the United Kingdom, was scheduled to corroborate Bender’s claims on the day of Tawhidi’s livestream. This individual had been a guest of the Qatari Prime Minister for six months and claimed extensive connections to Qatari royalty. He reportedly intended to testify that Omar works for Qatar, supplies it with information passed on to Iranian interests, and that he was willing to appear before any parliament or Congress.

Context and Citations

The livestream occurred while Tawhidi was in Budapest at the invitation of the Hungarian Prime Minister’s Office. Tawhidi positioned himself as both a participant in the federal lawsuit and a victim of Qatari retaliation. Key sources:

• Tawhidi Livestream: “Imam of Peace says Ihlan Omar (sic) is Asset of Qatar,” November 27, 2019. Available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur_8dWJvK4A. Transcript here: https://dannielleblumenthal.com/2026/07/22/imam-of-peace-livestream-2019-transcript/
• Bender Deposition: Videotaped Deposition of Alan Bender, October 23, 2019, in Pittard et al. v. Al Thani et al., Case No. 8:19-cv-1784 (M.D. Fla.), reported by Karin A. Jenkner, Toronto Court Reporters. Transcript: https://dannielleblumenthal.com/2026/07/22/videotaped-deposition-of-alan-bender-2019-transcript/

Statement of Verified Status and Work in the Public Interest

The allegations remain unverified because they stem from a civil lawsuit deposition rather than formal charges, lacking independent verification or official inquiry. Nevertheless, sharing information regarding public figures is in the public interest to promote government accountability, uphold democratic oversight, and foster public debate on national security.