| Despite Rep. Ellison breaking down in tears at the persecution of his people. |
New York congressman Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, defended the hearing as a necessary examination of terrorists' attempts to recruit Muslims living in the U.S.
The committee also heard from Melvin Bledsoe, whose son faces capital-murder charges for allegedly killing a military recruiter and wounding another in a June 2009 shooting in Little Rock, Ark. The son, Carlos Bledsoe, converted to Islam and traveled to Yemen before the shooting.
Melvin Bledsoe described what he called the brainwashing' of his son, saying Carlos was a happy teenager who changed after he went to college and converted.
New York Republican Peter King, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, defends the merit of holding hearings on Radical Islam in the United States.
"This is a big elephant in the room, and our society continues not to see it,'' he said. "Our children are in danger. Our country must stand up and do something about the problem. Tomorrow it could be your son, your daughter.''
Another witness, Abdirizak Bihi, said that when his family went to authorities in Minnesota and expressed concern that his nephew and other local youths might have joined a Somalia terrorist group, other members of his community tried to intimidate them into not cooperating with investigators.
| Juxtapose this with Bill Maher's discussion with Rep. Ellison. The conversation is finally happening. |
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