The DOJ and US Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Virginia said in a press release Monday that a former FBI linguist was arrested and indicted on obstruction charges in a terrorism investigation.
“According to court documents, Abdirizak Jaji Raghe Wehelie, aka Haji Raghe, 66, of Burke, was a federal contractor for the FBI and worked as a linguist translating communications captured by court-authorized surveillance of a suspect (Person A) in a terrorism investigation. Wehelie allegedly intentionally misidentified his own voice that was captured when Person A left a voicemail message on Wehelie’s mobile telephone,” the US Attorney’s office in the Eastern District of Virginia stated in a press release.
In other words, Haji Raghe, who was hired by the FBI to translate wiretaps, was actually caught up in a wiretap talking to a suspected terrorist — then lied to the feds about it.
This is yet another egregious national security breach by our premiere law enforcement agency.
What kind of vetting process does the FBI have to allow a person like this to be contracted in terrorism investigations??
“When questioned by FBI investigators about this particular incident, Wehelie made several misleading and/or false statements,” the government said.
“Haji Raghe” appeared in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia Monday morning.
“[Haji Raghe] Wehelie is charged with making false statements to government officials and obstruction of a federal investigation.” the government said. “If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison.”
What is the normal FBI vetting process for federal contractors working to translate wiretaps captured by court-ordered surveillance of suspected terrorists?
