@FBI: Investigate Middle East Institute's Funding From the United Arab Emirates

A key driver of Saudi Arabia's famine-inducing war in Yemen has been the government of the United Arab Emirates. A key advocate on Capitol Hill for the Saudi-UAE war in Yemen has been Gerald Feierstein of the Middle East Institute, which receives money from Saudi Arabia and the UAE as well as major U.S. arms manufacturers. In March, Feierstein advocated to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on behalf of the Saudi arms deal. [1] Feierstein also advocated in favor of a Saudi-UAE plan to attack the Yemeni port of Hodeida, which the UN, aid groups, and former U.S. officials warned would almost certainly push Yemen into famine. [2]

The Intercept has now reported based on a leaked document that the Middle East Institute was to receive $20 million from the UAE over 2016-2017, which the UAE hoped to conceal, with the first payment coming in 2016. According to the agreement, the contribution would allow the MEI to "inform U.S. government policy makers." [3]

On June 13, 2017, Feierstein testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the U.S.-Saudi relationship. [4] In his required disclosure form, Feierstein claimed that his organization had not received any payment or contract from any foreign government related to the matter of the hearing since 2013. [5] According to the Intercept story, that statement was false. Making false statements to Congress is a violation of federal law. [6]

Ask your representatives in Congress to press the FBI to investigate the Middle East Institute's funding from the United Arab Emirates, whether MEI is violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and whether Gerald Feierstein lied to Congress about MEI's funding from the UAE by signing our petition.

References:
1. https://www.justsecurity.org/41712/defense-industry-campaign-contributions-threaten-influence-senate-vote-saudi-arms-deal/
2. http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/en/originals/2017/03/yemen-operation-uae-saudi-famine-port-trump-criticism.html
3. https://theintercept.com/2017/08/09/gulf-government-gave-secret-20-million-gift-to-d-c-think-tank/
4. http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA13/20170613/106108/HHRG-115-FA13-Wstate-FeiersteinG-20170613.pdf
5. http://docs.house.gov/meetings/FA/FA13/20170613/106108/HHRG-115-FA13-TTF-FeiersteinG-20170613.pdf
6. http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/24/politics/penalty-for-lying-to-congress/index.html