by Scott Dreyer in The Roanoke Star
Del. Salam Rasoul (D), who goes by the anglicized nickname “Sam,” represents most of Roanoke City in District 38 in the House of Delegates. From his charming smile to his campaign slogan “TRUTH/LOVE/GRIT,” his political persona is one of friendliness, honesty, and compassion.
His website touts a belief in “People-first Politics.” Some of his social media profiles claim he’s “shining a light in dark places,” giving the impression he’s a force for transparency fighting murky political malignancies. However, an examination of Rasoul’s own political donation receipts reveals a somewhat darker underside.
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For example, the non-partisan Virginia Public Access Project (VPAP) reports here that California resident Sara (aka Sarah) Deen contributed $2,000 in 2023 to “Rasoul for Delegate.” Deen is a member of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School Board.
It’s unclear why a school board member 2,500 miles and three time zones away from Roanoke would be contributing to a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, or if Deen and Rasoul even know each other. The Roanoke Star has reached out to Del. Rasoul twice asking if he has any statement about the contribution, but none has been received.
Deen is profiled on this Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) site, the fourth individual listed from the top.
Deen reportedly attended the September 2023 CAIR Gala in Anaheim, second from right in the photo below. According to a source in California, the CAIR Los Angeles Director, Hussam Ayloush, is the tallest man in the middle.
CAIR itself has long stirred controversy. Rabbi Yaakov Menken, Managing Director for the Coalition for Jewish Values, wrote a January 2022 opinion piece in Newsweek, claiming, “CAIR not only inspires terrorists. It’s historically linked to them.”
Menken concludes his commentary with, “Now that CAIR has targeted Jews in such an open and egregious manner, […] CAIR has unmasked itself as the virulent hate group that it has always been. Americans must oppose CAIR and the antisemitism that it foments and disseminates.”
See the full article in The Roanoke Star
Photo Credit: Mark Dixon on Flickr