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135-510: During the 1990s, American politicians, including Chuck Schumer and Eliot Spitzer , alongside the Israeli government and Steve Emerson, lobbied the U.S. government to take action against the Holy Land Foundation. In December 2001, the U.S. designated HLF a terrorist organization, seized its assets, and closed the organization. At the time it was the largest Muslim charitable organisation in

270-456: A Bill Clinton appointment. The Executive Order was based on an "administrative record" explaining the reasons behind the decision to designate the HLF as a terrorist organisation. The report claimed that the HLF was a front for Hamas. The report contained a number of documents including one that claimed Shukri Baker was a member of Hamas. None of the statements quoted were taken under oath. The key claim

405-570: A Bush -era privatization plan for custodial and utility workers at the United States Military Academy at West Point . The plan would have called for turning over custodial and utility work to a Georgia company. In November 2017, Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand announced $ 1,908,486 in funding for Head Start and Early Head Start programs at the Community Action Organization of Erie County , Schumer saying

540-466: A censure . A spokesman for Schumer said the comments were in reference to the political price Senate Republicans would pay, and criticized Roberts for following a "right-wing" attack to misinterpret the comments. Schumer later apologized for the comments. In November 2017, Schumer said, "Just as our free highway system helped build jobs in America in the 20th century, net neutrality will help build jobs in

675-532: A hung jury on all other charges. At a retrial in 2008, the jury found all defendants guilty on all counts. The 2008 trial of the charity leaders was the "largest terrorism financing prosecution in American history." In 2009, the founders of the organization were given sentences of between 15 and 65 years in prison for "funnelling $ 12 million to Hamas." The trial has been criticised by some NGOs, including Human Rights Watch . Civil rights attorney Emily Ratner wrote that

810-463: A "mainstream justice" whom Republicans had no reason to oppose. In March 2016, after Obama nominated Merrick Garland to replace the deceased Antonin Scalia , Schumer called for Mitch McConnell and Chuck Grassley to hold hearings "so America can make its own judgment as to whether Merrick Garland belongs on the court". In July 2018, it was reported Schumer had advocated that Trump nominate Garland as

945-616: A "substantial amount" of the money raised went to worthy causes, but insisted that Holy Land's primary purpose had been to subsidize Hamas. Treasury officials had found that HLF provided the following amounts to "zakat" charities from 1992 to 2001: $ 366,584 to the Tulkarem Zakat Committee; $ 1,674,954 to the Islamic Charitable Society of Hebron ("ICS Hebron"); $ 475,715 to the Nablus Zakat Committee; $ 554,500 to

1080-543: A Christian or Jewish group, I don't think [prosecutors] would have brought charges against them." The HLF retrial began on August 18, 2008. The prosecution again presented the two anonymous Israeli witnesses, "Avi" and "Major Lior." In an effort to strengthen its unsuccessful presentation at the first trial, the prosecution added testimony from former National Security Council staff member Steven Simon, from Treasury Department official Robert McBrien, and from Mohamed Shorbagi, who had pleaded guilty to charges unrelated to HLF and

1215-570: A Designated Terrorist Organization. During this time, the US government alleged that Marzook led Baker, el-Mezain, and Elashi to create other Hamas-supporting organizations in the United States, including media entity Islamic Association of Palestine , and the United Association for Studies and Research (UASR). Abu Baker was reported having been on IAP's board. The 1992 donation was fully disclosed on

1350-483: A Government Accountability Office report, USAID lacked even a procedure to verify the accuracy of individual's names. In March 2006, the USAID mission to Tel Aviv eliminated a requirement to periodically reevaluate partners resulting in a lack of scrutiny for organizations later tied to terrorists. Finally, USAID did not vet recipients that received funds under $ 25,000 from 2001 to 2003 and under $ 100,000 post 2003 until 2006 when

1485-538: A U.S. Magistrate Judge Arlander Keys ruled that HLF, along with the Islamic Association of Palestine (IAP), were liable for a 1996 killing of 17-year-old David Boim in Israel. This decision was the first time U.S. citizens or organizations were held liable under a 1990 federal law that permitted victims of terrorism to sue for civil damages. The first trial, in 2007, ended in the partial acquittal of one defendant and

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1620-481: A border security bill with Senator Richard Shelby that funded the government through 2020. On October 10, 2019, two months after Democrat Mondaire Jones announced his intention to challenge her in a 2020 primary, Lowey announced she would not run for reelection in 2020. For her tenure as the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee in the 116th Congress, Lowey earned an "A" grade from

1755-620: A completely new case. The first HLF criminal trial began on July 23, 2007, at the Earl Cabell Federal Building in Dallas, Texas . On October 22, 2007, Judge Joe Fish declared a mistrial because the jurors were deadlocked. During the 2007 trial, the lawyers representing the foundation alleged that the Justice Department fabricated quotes and modified transcripts. The defendants attempted to motion for evidence collected under

1890-696: A congressional hearing accompanied by Sesame Street characters Bert and Ernie. Lowey has been a vocal advocate for a Security Council Resolution on the conflict in Darfur . She is responsible for the $ 500 million in the Emergency Spending Bill for Aid in Darfur. Lowey voted for HR 2454, the "Cap and Trade" legislation. In early 2009, Lowey introduced the Transportation Security Workforce Enhancement Act, which calls for collective bargaining rights for federal workers at

2025-509: A green light to the big ISPs to charge middle-class Americans, small business owners, schools, rural Americans, and communities of color more to use the internet." Schumer's committee assignments for the 118th Congress are as follows: Schumer is pro-choice , and has a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America . In 2002, Schumer authored a provision to an industry-sponsored bill intended to make it harder for people to erase their debts by filing for bankruptcy. Anti-abortion activists opposed

2160-540: A key role in organizing the event, gave the opening speech and served as master of ceremonies . A photograph of a smiling Schumer peering from behind Malia Obama as Obama took the oath of office went viral and became a meme . Although it was called a " photobomb ", it was not technically one as he was standing in the correct place. The Huffington Post quipped, "clearly, inauguration day belonged to Chuck Schumer." Schumer prides himself on visiting each of New York's 62 counties every year and has done so in each of

2295-548: A majority either in the Judiciary Committee or the floor" and that her confirmation hearings would cause her to gather either support or opposition in a way that had not been seen by any other nominee in recent memory. In May 2009, he told reporters the confirmation process for Obama Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor would be "more of a test of the Republican Party than it is of Judge Sotomayor", calling Sotomayor

2430-539: A petition for writ of certiorari with the United States Supreme Court , challenging their convictions on Sixth Amendment grounds and thereby requesting that the high court review their convictions. The defendants asserted that the prosecution's use of two anonymous witnesses during their trial was impermissible as a matter of law. On October 29, 2012, the United States Supreme Court denied

2565-486: A potential matchup with Solarz, but the matchup did not materialize. In preparation, Schumer "set about making friends on Wall Street , tapping the city's top law firms and securities houses for campaign donations. 'I told them I looked like I had a very difficult reapportionment fight. If I were to stand a chance of being re-elected, I needed some help,' he would later tell the Associated Press ." Schumer introduced

2700-603: A rally outside the United States Capitol while the Supreme Court was hearing an abortion-related case, Schumer said that if Kavanaugh and Gorsuch voted against abortion rights, they would have "unleashed a whirlwind" and would "pay the price". He then said, "You won't know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions." Republicans and Democrats, as well as Chief Justice John Roberts , condemned these comments as inciting violence. Senator Josh Hawley called for

2835-468: A senior Hamas leader, Baker argued that the school was well respected. In 2000, HLF raised over $ 13 million, making it the largest Muslim charity in the United States. On December 4, 2001, under Executive Order 13224 issued by President Bush , the Holy Land Foundation was designated a Domestic Terror Organisation and closed down. According to the United States Department of Treasury , HLF

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2970-522: A special prosecutor for an investigation into Russia's meddling; that Comey meet with the Senate; and that Rosenstein and Attorney General Jeff Sessions meet separately with senators. In January 2018, Schumer said that since Mueller's investigation began, the United States "has had to endure conspiracy after conspiracy from the right wing, Republican congressmen, senators and of course the right-wing press, which acts in total cahoots" in regard to their views on

3105-475: A statement from a former manager of the HLF Jerusalem office which the lawyers were able to prove was a fabrication. Before the case could proceed and be presented to a jury Judge Kessler dismissed the case and ordered that all evidence submitted be struck from the record. This decision was appealed. The Circuit Court of Appeals found that Judge Kessler had been mistaken in dismissing the case but that since this

3240-552: A successful way to raise a politician's profile nationally and among his constituents. Schumer has appeared on The Daily Show seven times. In Washington, Schumer has been a lead consensus-builder on the difficult issues of health care, immigration, and financial regulation. As chair of the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies for the Second Inauguration of Barack Obama , Schumer played

3375-645: A way to attract bipartisan support, as opposed to nominating someone opposed to the Affordable Care Act and Roe v. Wade who would be more controversial. In November 2016, Schumer said the Democrats would "go at" President-elect Trump if he did not nominate Supreme Court justices who were mainstream and the Republicans did not have "clean hands" for having blocked the Garland nomination for months. In March 2017, at

3510-584: Is an American politician serving as Senate Majority Leader since 2021 and as a United States senator from New York since 1999. A member of the Democratic Party , he has led the Senate Democratic Caucus since 2017 and was Senate Minority Leader from 2017 to 2021. He became New York's senior senator in 2001, on the retirement of Daniel Patrick Moynihan . Elected to a fifth Senate term in 2022, Schumer surpassed Moynihan and Jacob K. Javits as

3645-636: Is an American politician who formerly served as a U.S. Representative from New York from 1989 until 2021. She is a member of the Democratic Party . Lowey also served as co-Dean of the New York Congressional Delegation, along with former U.S. Representative Eliot Engel . Lowey's district was numbered as the 20th from 1989 to 1993, as the 18th from 1993 to 2013, and as the 17th beginning in 2013. The district includes many of New York City's inner northern suburbs, such as White Plains , Purchase , Tarrytown , Mount Kisco , and Armonk . She

3780-683: Is located in White Plains, New York . According to the West Corporation , his practice areas include securities law, antitrust law, and consumer protection. They have three children and eight grandchildren, including Forever Summer: Hamptons cast member Ilan Luttway. The estimate of Lowey's personal assets, based on financial disclosures members of Congress are required to provide (aside from that of personal residences and non-interest-bearing bank accounts), put her wealth at $ 41.2 million in 2010, based largely on her husband's investments. This figure

3915-428: Is the first New Yorker, as well as the first Jewish person , to serve as a Senate leader. On January 20, 2021, Democrats gained control of the Senate with the swearing-in of newly elected Georgia senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock , following the 2020–21 election runoff and special election runoff , making Schumer the majority leader, replacing Republican Mitch McConnell . Schumer's propensity for publicity

4050-464: Is the subject of a running joke among many commentators. He has been called an "incorrigible publicity hound". Bob Dole once quipped, "the most dangerous place in Washington is between Charles Schumer and a television camera"; Barack Obama joked that Schumer brought the press to a banquet as his "loved ones". Schumer often schedules media appearances on Sundays. Some have cited his use of media as

4185-554: The New York Daily News whether Lowey might switch her support to candidate Bernie Sanders if Sanders were to win the New York State Democratic presidential primary, said "absolutely not... Hillary Clinton is Congresswoman Lowey's friend, colleague and her constituent, and she is behind her 100%." Lowey is married to Stephen Lowey, a named partner in the law firm of Lowey Dannenberg Cohen & Hart, P.C., which

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4320-541: The 10th congressional district in 1983 and 9th congressional district 10 years later. In 1998, Schumer was elected to the Senate, defeating three-term Republican incumbent Al D'Amato . He was reelected in 2004 with 71% of the vote, in 2010 with 66% of the vote, in 2016 with 70% of the vote, and in 2022 with 56% of the vote. Schumer chaired the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee from 2005 to 2009, overseeing 14 Democratic gains in

4455-518: The 2016 Presidential Election , Schumer said the Democratic Party lost due to not having "a strong, bold economic message" and called on Democrats to push for reforms in the affordability of college and trade laws. The Senate Democratic caucus elected Schumer minority leader in November 2016. Schumer had been widely expected to lead Senate Democrats after Reid announced his retirement in 2015. He

4590-524: The Adirondacks , the least populous and most Republican county. Mills conceded defeat minutes after the polls closed, before returns had come in. An April 2009 SurveyUSA poll placed Schumer's approval rating at 62%, with 31% disapproving. Notable former aides to Schumer include former U.S. Representative Anthony Weiner , former New York State Senator Daniel Squadron , and New York State Assemblymembers Phil Goldfeder and Victor M. Pichardo . After

4725-575: The American Jewish Congress launched a campaign demanding that the IRS revoke the HLF's tax-exempt status; the campaign was supported by Charles Schumer , Nita Lowey and Eliot Spitzer . In February 1995, the HLF and several other US Muslim organizations held a meeting with senior US Treasury Department officials asking for guidelines on how to avoid making inappropriate transactions with designated terrorist organizations. Those attending included

4860-767: The Biden administration to release all 5 accused. On November 24, 2022, Within Our Lifetime , the Coalition for Civil Freedoms and the Samidoun Prisoner Network launched a campaign to release the Holy Land Five. Levitt has claimed in response that the USAID did not properly vet recipients. Until June 2006, USAID lacked important background identifier information on individuals such as date of birth and full names. According to

4995-594: The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and the Respect for Marriage Act . Also under his leadership, the Senate confirmed the most federal judges during the first two years of any presidency since John F. Kennedy 's, and the most diverse slate of federal judicial nominations in American history, including Ketanji Brown Jackson , the first African American woman to serve on the Supreme Court . Schumer

5130-554: The Islamic Association of Palestine and the Quranic Literacy Institute ) was liable in a $ 156 million lawsuit for aiding and abetting the militant group Hamas in the death of a 17-year-old American citizen named David Boim. In 2007, this decision was reversed by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago and sent back to the trial court. In 2008, the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reheard the case en banc. On November 3, 2008,

5265-584: The New York state bar in early 1975, but never practiced law, opting rather for a career in politics. In 1974, Schumer ran for and was elected to the New York State Assembly , filling a seat previously held by Schumer's mentor, U.S. Representative Stephen Solarz . Schumer served three terms, from 1975 to 1981, sitting in the 181st , 182nd and 183rd New York State Legislatures . In 1980, 16th district U.S. Representative Elizabeth Holtzman won

5400-745: The Religious Freedom Restoration Act (also known as RFRA) on March 11, 1993. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee , Schumer was one of four members of Congress who oversaw the House investigation (leading the Democratic party's defense of the Clinton administration ), of the Waco siege hearings in 1995. In 1998, Schumer ran for the Senate . He won the Democratic primary with 51% of

5535-560: The SAT and graduating as the valedictorian of James Madison High School in 1967. He competed for Madison High on the television quiz show It's Academic . He attended Harvard College , where he originally majored in chemistry before switching to social studies after volunteering on Eugene McCarthy's presidential campaign in 1968 . After graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa in 1971, Schumer attended Harvard Law School , earning his Juris Doctor with honors in 1974. He passed

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5670-588: The Washington Institute has argued that both received seed money from Hamas leader Marzook. InfoCom also maintained the web sites for HLF and IAP (Islamic Association of Palestine). Before the designation of HLF as a terrorist organization, the government had been surveilling the organization pursuant to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ("FISA") as well as several individuals due to suspect activity. In 1993, one month after

5805-551: The West Bank that paid stipends to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers and Hamas prisoners; that Hamas controlled those zakat committees; that by distributing charity through Hamas-controlled committees, HLF helped Hamas build a grassroots support amongst the Palestinian people; and that these charity front organizations served a dual purpose of laundering the money for all of Hamas's activities. Simultaneously, in November 2004,

5940-556: The 21st century. To take a step back hurts our economy, our job growth and middle-class and working people. It is a disaster." In December, after the FCC voted to repeal net neutrality rules, Schumer said the internet could start resembling "a toll road, with the highest bidders cruising along private 'fast lanes' while the rest of us inch along a single, traffic-choked public lane; and we could be forced to purchase internet packages much like cable packages, paying more for popular sites", and that

6075-408: The 7th Circuit "upheld in large measure a $ 156 million award to the parents of David Boim, a 17-year-old U.S. citizen murdered by members of Hamas while visiting Israel." "The en banc court agreed with [Washington Legal Foundation] that those who donate funds to a known terrorist group are responsible under U.S. law for the group's actions – even if the donors contend that they only intended to support

6210-731: The Chief of the International Programs Division, John Robert McBrien, the head of the Office of Foreign Assets Control , Richard Newcomb, the head of the Licensing Division, Stephen Pinter, and the senior attorney in the Treasury Department's Chief Council's office, Serena Moe. The guidelines requested were finally released in 2002. During the mid-90s, HLF distributed publications that stated HLF raised money for "widows, orphans,

6345-483: The Classified Information Procedures Act (CIPA) as unconstitutional, although the judge A. Joe Fish denied this request on February 27, 2007. The defendants argued that they themselves needed access to each classified intercepts to find exculpatory information and that the summaries provided were inaccurate. Judge Fish noted that the court was already aware that not every intercept was summarized by

6480-506: The Democratic nomination for the Senate seat of Republican Jacob Javits . Schumer ran for Holtzman's vacated House seat and won. He was reelected eight times from the Brooklyn and Queens -based district, which changed numbers twice in his tenure (it was numbered the 16th from 1981 to 1983, the 10th from 1983 to 1993, and the 9th from 1993). In 1982, as a result of redistricting , Schumer faced

6615-464: The Eastern District of Texas. 'This is a message, a two-by-four in the middle of the forehead,' Orwig said. 'If this doesn't get their attention, they are just in complete denial,' he said of Justice Department officials, who he said may not have recognized how difficult such cases are to prosecute." Experts found the jury's inability to come to a definitive conclusion to be evidence of weakness in

6750-564: The FBI Matthew Levitt, Col. Jonathen Fighel, and acting unit chief for the FBI's cryptanalysis and racketeering records unit Daniel B. Olsen. Olsen's testimony focused on Hamas' financial infrastructure, including their financial records and affiliated zakat committees. Levitt's testimony focused on Hamas' origins, leaders and prominent members, and structure. The government did not allege that HLF paid directly for suicide bombings, but instead that

6885-482: The FBI had been investigating whether the Trump campaign had colluded with Russia and pondered whether the investigation was "getting too close to home for the president". In a Senate floor speech, Schumer called for a "impartial and independent" investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, announcing the Democrats had agreed that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein would not be able to appoint

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7020-716: The FBI, and that the Republicans' effort to discredit Mueller "has now devolved into delusional, self-serving paranoia". In May, after the White House invited two Republicans and no Democrats to a briefing by Department of Justice officials on an FBI informant who made contact with the Trump campaign, Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi sent a letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and FBI director Christopher A. Wray calling for "a bipartisan Gang of Eight briefing that involves congressional leadership from both chambers". In September 2005, after President George W. Bush nominated John Roberts for Chief Justice of

7155-492: The HLF received $ 56 million in donations, and during 1995–2001 $ 12.4 million was spent outside the United States. Repeated appeals to the courts by HLF to have the freeze lifted failed. On July 3, 2007, Muslim Legal Fund of America agreed to fund the defense of the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development against allegations by the government that the charity provided "material support" by providing basic necessities (i.e. food, clothing, shelter, etc.) for Palestinians under

7290-517: The HLF's tax returns. Marzook was deported from the US to Jordan in 1997. He was indicted on August 20, 2004, by a US federal grand jury in Chicago, Illinois . He and two other individuals were charged with a 15-year conspiracy to raise funds for terrorist attacks against Israel . Neither HLF nor any HLF officer was charged in the Chicago indictment. In 1994, the Anti-Defamation League and

7425-480: The Hamas as continued to flourish since the foundation shut down. Civil rights attorney Emily Ratner wrote that the use of anonymous and hearsay evidence by the prosecutors was "constitutionally questionable" at best. Additionally, much of the evidence used to convict the Holy Land Foundation was "secret evidence" which the defense was unable to read or even know who made it. According to Marjorie Cohn , professor emerita of

7560-429: The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, leading to the arrest and jailing of Foundation President Shukri Abu Baker, Chairman Ghassan Elashi , Mohammad el-Mezain, Mufid Abdulqader and Abdulraham Odeh. According to Peled, "the American justice [...] can convict a hundred innocents for one who is guilty". Peled also argued that none of the recipients of aid were family members of suicide bombers and questions why

7695-464: The Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development. In 1992, the HLF relocated to Richardson, Texas. It had offices in California, New Jersey, and Illinois, and individual representatives scattered throughout the US, the West Bank , and Gaza . Mousa Abu Marzook , a political leader of Hamas and long time US resident, donated $ 210,000 to HLF in the early 1992. The donation was made before Hamas became

7830-506: The Holy Land Foundation: President Shukri Abu Baker; Chairman Ghassan Elashi ; and Executive Director Haitham Maghawri, and four others: Mohammad el-Mezain, Akram Mishal, Mufid Abdulqader , and Abdulraham Odeh. Five of the seven were arrested. Maghawri and Mishal have not been found, and are considered fugitives . In December 2004, a federal judge in Chicago ruled that the Holy Land Foundation (along with

7965-505: The IAEA's satisfaction before sanctions relief is provided, and inspectors will not have immediate access to the most suspicious facilities. There are no clear accountability measures regarding punishment for minor violations, which could encourage Iran to cheat. Like all Democratic members of Congress, Lowey was a superdelegate to the 2016, Democratic National Convention , pledged to support Hillary Clinton . Lowey's chief of staff, when asked by

8100-575: The Israeli military from the zakat committees and from the Palestinian Authorities' headquarters in Ramallah. Video recordings showed the defendants appearing at HLF fundraising events attended by Hamas leaders and explicitly soliciting donations following praising Hamas. One video that implicated HLF leaders was surprisingly found buried in the backyard of Falls Church resident Marcial Peredo whose home

8235-524: The Israeli occupation. On July 27, 2004, a federal grand jury in Dallas, Texas , returned a 42-count indictment against the Holy Land Foundation. Charges included: conspiracy , providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization , tax evasion , and money laundering . The indictment alleged that the Holy Land Foundation provided more than $ 12.4 million to individuals and organizations linked to Hamas from 1995 to 2001, when their assets were frozen. The indictment also named specific officers of

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8370-410: The Jenin Zakat Committee; $ 494,252 to the Ramallah Zakat Committee; and $ 295,187 to the Qalqilia Zakat Committee. The Treasury argued that these charities were affiliated and controlled by Hamas despite functioning under the Israeli Military Administration. In addition, HLF sent $ 485,468 to the Islamic Science and Culture Committee from May 1991 until the committee was closed in 1996. Between 1992 and 2001

8505-435: The Justice Department supported the legislation. In October 2016, after FBI director James Comey announced the reopening of an investigation into whether Hillary Clinton , then the Democratic presidential nominee, mishandled classified emails during her tenure at the State Department, Schumer said he had lost confidence in Comey. In May 2017, after President Donald Trump fired Comey, Schumer told reporters they were aware

8640-436: The New York City portion of her district. Lowey considered running for the United States Senate in 2000 , but stepped aside when First Lady of the United States Hillary Clinton announced her candidacy. Lowey was considered a top contender for appointment to Clinton's Senate seat after Clinton was nominated to be Secretary of State , but in a December 1, 2008, phone interview with the Associated Press , she stated that she

8775-448: The Philadelphia meeting in 1993 had Hamas leader Muin Shabib discussing the zakat committees relationship to Hamas. Another 1991 letter addressed to Baker used similar language implying Hamas control of the zakat charities. This evidence established HLF's relationship with Hamas prior to 1995. Following Hamas' designation, financial documents and testimony showed that HLF provided funds to the same Hamas-controlled zakat committees as prior to

8910-404: The Senate adopted a measure to revive Obama-era internet regulations enforcing equal treatment for all web traffic. Schumer called the vote "our best chance to make sure the internet stays accessible and affordable to all Americans". In June, in response to the Republican-controlled House not taking up the Senate resolution restoring net neutrality rules, Schumer said, "House Republican leaders gave

9045-452: The Senate in the 2006 and 2008 elections . He was the third-ranking Democrat in the Senate, behind Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Majority Whip Dick Durbin . He served as Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus in the Senate from 2007 to 2017 and chaired the Senate Democratic Policy Committee from 2011 to 2017. Schumer won his fourth term in the Senate in 2016 and was then unanimously elected Democratic leader to succeed Reid, who

9180-431: The Senate." After meeting with Kavanaugh, Schumer said he had asked him whether he believed Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood were properly decided and that Kavanaugh had not responded and the lack of an answer "should send shivers down the spine of any American who believes in reproductive freedom for women". He also said Kavanaugh had a special obligation to make his views clear due to his unique position as

9315-411: The TSA and Department of Homeland Security. However, some statements from the TSA dispute the necessity of collective bargaining. She was strongly critical of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment , which places limits on taxpayer-funded abortions in the context of the November 2009, Affordable Health Care for America Act . Because of the rancor and disruptions which marked many of the town hall meetings held in

9450-441: The Thomas Jefferson School of Law, the trial was a "grave miscarriage of justice" and "capitalized on post-9/11 Islamophobic hysteria" in order to convict the Holy Land Five. Pulitzer Prize journalist Chris Hedges describes it as "one of the most egregious cases of injustice committed to date against Muslim leaders in the United States." Human Rights Watch has condemned the trial as it was based on hearsay evidence and called on

9585-414: The Treasury 's Office of Foreign Asset Control designated HLF a Specially Designated Global Terrorist . Ghassan Elashi, HLF chairman, was also vice president of InfoCom Corporation of Richardson, Texas, indicted along with Hamas' Marzook. InfoCom, an Internet company, shared personnel, office space, and board members with the HLF. The two organizations were formed in California around the same time, and

9720-413: The USAID program as late as 2006. Although none of the zakat committees were included on the Treasury Department list of designated terrorist organizations, the government alleged that HLF knew these charities were controlled by Hamas and acted as a branch of Hamas within the United States. Avi testified that the zakat committees were controlled by Hamas starting in 1991. Moreover, conversations captured from

9855-585: The United States , Schumer praised Roberts's brilliance, his being "a lawyer above all", and his "judicial philosophy and modesty and stability" during the Senate Judiciary Committee's confirmation hearings for Roberts. But Schumer said Roberts's "compassion and humanity" was questionable, and objected to the Bush administration's refusal to show documents Roberts wrote during his tenure as deputy solicitor general and to Roberts's refusal to answer many questions

9990-544: The United States. It had been under FBI surveillance since 1994, authorized under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act ("FISA"). In 2004, a federal grand jury in Dallas, Texas, charged HLF and five former officers and employees with providing material support to Hamas and related offenses. The government's assertion was that HLF distributed charity through local zakat (charity) committees located in

10125-536: The class of 1955, and then from Mount Holyoke College with a bachelor's degree in liberal studies. Lowey worked for Mario Cuomo 's 1974 campaign for lieutenant governor of New York . She then served as the assistant secretary of state of New York for 13 years. Lowey ran for the United States House of Representatives from New York's 20th congressional district in the 1988 election against incumbent Joe DioGuardi . She defeated DioGuardi. Her district

10260-607: The committee asked him. In June 2018, Schumer said Roberts was demeaning the Supreme Court as it became more political, citing the court ruling in favor of anti-abortion clinics in California. Schumer said the court had "affirmed a plainly discriminatory travel ban, unleashed a flood of dark unlimited money in our politics and has scrapped a key pillar of the Voting Rights Act" and thereby aligned itself with goals of what he called "the hard right". In October 2005, Schumer said Bush Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers "would not get

10395-529: The company, citing the risk to 100 workers at the plant. When it was revealed that Canon Inc. was considering relocating from its corporate headquarters in Long Island because of a dispute over road infrastructure funding, Schumer stepped in to advocate that New York state redirect federal stimulus dollars to make the road improvements and keep the company and its jobs on Long Island. Along with his House and Senate colleagues, Schumer successfully worked to kill

10530-451: The completion of the cemetery would ensure "Western New York's military veterans will have the proper burial, at a site close to the homes, families, and the very communities they dedicated their lives to defend and serve." In May 2001, Schumer and Senator John McCain introduced legislation intended to make it more difficult for makers of brand-name drugs to keep cheaper generic drugs off the market. A coalition of consumer groups supported

10665-641: The convictions and sentences. The court found that the trial court had erred in admitting each of the additional items of evidence on which the prosecution relied in the second trial (the Simon testimony, the McBrien testimony, the Shorbagi testimony, and the documents recovered from the Palestinian Authority headquarters). But the court of appeals found that the errors in admitting this evidence were harmless (i.e., that

10800-426: The defendants could request relief if they found widespread issues related to misleading summaries, although "it is highly unlikely that such appropriate relief would include a declaration that CIPA is unconstitutional." On July 5, 2007, Judge Fish again denied the defendants request to prevent the government from introducing or relying upon any communications from lines that the defendants could not access and prohibit

10935-442: The defendants had access to full transcripts for 50 of the intercepts, and access to 105 declassified summaries of additional intercepts. They roughly had access to 155 of 200 or 77.5% of the intercepts the government planned to use at trial. Critics pointed out erroneous evidence produced during the trial. For example, over defence objection, the government called two anonymous witnesses: an Israeli Security Agency (ISA) employee who

11070-541: The defendants' contact information in his personal book. There were also numerous financial transactions between the defendants and Marzook and Marzook's wife Nadia who is also the cousin of Elashi. After 19 days of deliberations, the 2007 jury was unable to come to a definitive conclusion and the case ended in a mistrial. While 200 charges were filed against the defendants, the jurors had acquitted on some counts and were deadlocked on charges ranging from tax violations to providing material support for terrorists. One defendant

11205-401: The defendants' lawyers as having "drag their feet" and "having refused to seek declassification of specific documents for at least eighteen months after the government offered its assistance, the defendants now wish to place blame on the government for their own failure to seek declassification of documents in preparation for trial." Of the government's 200 transcripts designated for use at trial,

11340-523: The designation. Evidence seized in an Israeli raid from the zakat committees buttressed this claim, as video recordings showed school ceremonies and other events that promoted Hamas ideology, such as teaching children plays about suicide bombings, as well as the connections of multiple Hamas leaders to the zakat committees. Other evidence included seizures from HLF's offices in Texas, New Jersey, Illinois, California, wire taps, financial documents, evidence seized by

11475-411: The end of Senate hearings for Trump Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch , Schumer said he would vote against confirmation and called on Democrats to join him in blocking an up-or-down vote on Gorsuch. In his floor speech, Schumer said, "If this nominee cannot earn 60 votes—a bar met by each of President Obama's nominees and George Bush's last two nominees—the answer isn't to change the rules. It's to change

11610-498: The errors did not affect the outcome of the trial). The defendants petitioned the court of appeals for rehearing. They contended that the four erroneously admitted items of evidence were the key differences between the first trial, where the jury did not return a single guilty verdict, and the second trial, where the jury returned guilty verdicts on every count. The court of appeals denied the petition for rehearing without comment. In May 2012, Elashi, Baker, Abdulqader, and Odeh filed

11745-637: The federal funding would yield "real results to young students in Western New York by providing them with the resources they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom". In January 2018, Schumer requested that the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs complete final acquisitions for two 60-acre and 77-acre parcels in Pembroke, New York , and initiate construction of the New Western New York National Veterans Cemetery, saying

11880-532: The federal government had the authority to order the immediate production of generic ciproflaxin to expand the government stockpile of the drug. In July 2002, the Senate passed a bill sponsored by Schumer and McCain that could lower the costs of generic drugs more rapidly available to U.S. consumers and thereby lead to savings of billions of dollars in drug costs. The legislation also attempted to prevent frivolous lawsuits by brand-name drug manufacturers claiming generic drugs infringed their patents. An identical bill

12015-508: The formula for distributing homeland security grants to states. In 2006, also against Hoffman, Lowey won with 70%. Lowey was re-elected to an eleventh term in 2008, with 68% of the vote against James C. Russell. Lowey received an "A" on the liberal Drum Major Institute 's 2005 scorecard. She received 12% on the Club for Growth 's 2007 congressional scorecard. According to the conservative Heritage Foundation , Lowey consistently votes in support of

12150-461: The foundation supported terrorism by sending more than $ 12 million to charitable groups, known as zakat or charity committees, which provide social goods and services. The prosecution said the committees were controlled by Hamas, and contributed to terrorism by helping Hamas spread its ideology, recruit supporters, and provide a front for laundering money and soliciting donations. Some of these charitable committees were still receiving US funding through

12285-487: The government from using forty-five transcripts of conversations that the defendants never received in summary form. Judge Fish denied the request stating that the "forty-five intercepts constitute less than twenty-three percent of the intercepts the government intends to use at trial" and that the government offered starting in August 2005 to seek declassification of any intercepts the defendants would request. Judge Fish criticized

12420-498: The government nor was every intercepted collected listened to by the government. Fish claimed that the defendants' access was already sufficient since they had personal access to all the declassified summaries of the FISA intercepts and to the four lines of FISA intercepts that were fully declassified. Their attorneys who possessed security clearances could also access all FISA intercepts the government produced. Judge Fish mentioned that if this

12555-445: The government's ability to provide clear enough evidence against the charity. The LA Times reported that Georgetown University law professor David Cole said: "If the government can shut them down and then not convince a jury the group is guilty of any wrongdoing, then there is something wrong with the process". "The whole case was based on assumptions that were based on suspicions", said juror Scroggins, who added: "If they had been

12690-428: The group's "humanitarian" activities." "The court also rejected the 7th Circuit panel's conclusion that there was not sufficient evidence to find Hamas was responsible the teenager's death." Following the closure of the HLF offices Shukri Baker and Ghassan Elashi lodged a civil case to unfreeze HLF assists and reverse the designation of the HLF as a Terrorist Organisation. The case was held before Judge Gladys Kessler ,

12825-404: The homeless, and 'families of martyrs." In addition, the group lauded the fact that it was the "first to aid the 413 suspected Hamas activists whom Israel deported to Lebanon in 1992." HLF also listed Islamic University of Gaza —also founded by Marzook—as one recipient of its aid. In response to allegations that HLF provided funds to a religious school run by Jamil Hamami, who publicly identified as

12960-525: The individual defendants were remanded into custody without bail pending any appeal. A 2011 NPR report claimed some of the people associated with this group were imprisoned in a highly restrictive Communication Management Unit . The defendants appealed their convictions and sentences to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. On December 7, 2011, the court of appeals affirmed

13095-448: The legislation and Schumer told reporters its enactment would reduce prescription drug costs by over 60% per prescription in addition to saving consumers $ 71   billion over the next decade. In October 2001, during a press conference, Schumer stated his desire that generic ciprofloxacin be available for government use. At that time, Bayer held exclusive patent rights for its commercial product, Cipro . Schumer also said he believed

13230-454: The longest-serving U.S. senator from New York . He is the dean of New York's congressional delegation . A native of Brooklyn and a graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School , Schumer was a three-term member of the New York State Assembly from 1975 to 1980. He served nine terms in the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 1999, first representing New York's 16th congressional district before being redistricted to

13365-546: The material that has previously been provided to the defense... as well as some of the documentation seized from the Holy Land Foundation's offices." However, the government was ordered to provide the defendants with all "tangible underlying facts and data, not previously produced, upon which the ISA agent relies in reaching his opinion." Other expert testimony included Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Johns Hopkins University lecturer, and former intelligence research specialist at

13500-502: The meaning by saying "Sister Samah." Following this meeting, in 1994 the government searched the houses of two unindicted co-conspirators, Ismail Elbarasse and Abdelhaleen Masan Ashqar, where they found numerous documents labeling HLF as a fundraising arm for Hamas. On December 4, 2001, following HLF's designation as a terrorist organization, the assets of the organization were frozen by the FBI and Treasury agents. Treasury officials conceded that

13635-494: The measure, claiming it restricted their ability to use bankruptcy courts to write off court fines. After the bill appeared to die in May, J. Dennis Hastert spokesman John Feehery opined, "Schumer really was pretty obnoxious about how this provision was going to hurt people who were pro-life and that really got some of our folks ginned up." In response, Schumer said the provision was a compromise with Henry Hyde and other colleagues and it

13770-440: The mistranslated summaries, Judge Fish noted that unless the defendants found more than the one example provided amongst the declassified summaries that are significantly inaccurate or misleading, they could not provide that the presented inaccuracies were widespread rather than an isolated incident. Judge Fish again mentioned that the defendants could use the aforementioned pathway for declassification of FISA evidence and stated that

13905-410: The nominee." The Democrats conducted the filibuster, but Republicans broke it using the " nuclear option ", and Gorsuch was confirmed the next day. In July 2018, after Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to replace the retiring Anthony Kennedy , Schumer said Kavanaugh should be asked direct questions about the precedent set by Roe v. Wade and other cases. Schumer noted Kavanaugh's expressed opinion on

14040-625: The non-partisan Lugar Center's Congressional Oversight Hearing Index. Lowey announced her opposition to the nuclear deal with Iran , stating that In my judgment, sufficient safeguards are not in place to address the risks associated with the agreement. Relieving UN sanctions on conventional arms and ballistic missiles and releasing billions of dollars to the Iranian regime could lead to a dangerous regional weapons race and enable Iran to bolster its funding of terrorists. The deal does not explicitly require Iran to fully disclose its previous military work to

14175-580: The only person nominated to the Supreme Court by a president who said, "I will only nominate someone who overturns Roe v Wade ." Schumer subsequently called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to delay Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing after former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen plead guilty to charges of bank fraud, tax fraud and campaign finance law violations, calling the plea "a game changer". In March 2020, Schumer came under controversy for statements he made about Supreme Court justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh , both of whom were nominated by Trump. At

14310-413: The petition for writ of certiorari. British barrister Francis FitzGibbon QC has called the second trial a 'show trial' which relied on 'untested and untestable evidence,' hearsay evidence, prejudicial evidence, and the showing to the jury of additional material which was not part of the evidence at all. These add up to 'patent failings and abuses in the legal process.' FitzGibbon also doubts the strength of

14445-554: The policies of the Democratic Party, and is seen as a strong and effective progressive voice in that legislative body. Her voting record on mass surveillance earned her a "D" on the Stand Against Spying Congressional Scorecard , which was created by a coalition of organizations and individuals from across the political spectrum advocating for transparency and an end to mass surveillance. Early in her Congressional career, Lowey sponsored an earmark for

14580-466: The possible incorrect decision in United States v. Nixon and that this could mean he would not hold Trump accountable as a justice. On August 21, Schumer said he was requesting that documents from Kavanaugh's White House tenure be shared with the Senate, arguing that "withholding documents from the Senate and the American people under the bogus label of committee confidential is a dark development for

14715-552: The prosecution's case because, among other reasons, the United States Agency for International Development funded the same zakat committees named in the indictment of the HLF, and continued to do so for three years after it had shut down the HLF. In 2018, Miko Peled published the book Injustice: The Story of the Holy Land Foundation Five , in which he catalogs the trial of the criminalization and dismantling of

14850-645: The purpose of "dredging the Mamaroneck Harbor." According to the local newspaper, The Journal News , the dredging was proposed because "the harbor was becoming too shallow 'to accommodate the larger yachts.'" In 2001–2002, Lowey served as the first female chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee . One of the notable causes she supports is the Corporation for Public Broadcasting , in support of which she appeared at

14985-509: The resolution he was introducing would undo the effects of the vote. In January 2018, Schumer announced all 49 members of the Democratic caucus supported a resolution overturning the FCC vote on net neutrality and said congressional Republicans "have the opportunity to right the administration's wrong and show the American people whose side they're on: big ISPs ' and major corporations' or consumers', entrepreneurs', and small business owners'." In May,

15120-511: The retrial. HLF was found guilty of giving more than $ 12 million to support Hamas. The charges on which the jury found the defendants guilty included conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. "Today's verdicts are important milestones in America's efforts against financiers of terrorism," Patrick Rowan, assistant attorney general for national security, said after

15255-428: The selection of Mills over the conservative Michael Benjamin , who held significant advantages over Mills in both fundraising and organization. Benjamin publicly accused GOP chairman Sandy Treadwell and governor George Pataki of trying to muscle him out of the Senate race and undermine the democratic process. Schumer defeated Mills by 2.8 million votes. He won every county in the state except Hamilton County , in

15390-779: The signing of the Oslo Accords , Baker and Elashi participated in a public meeting in Philadelphia secretly recorded by the FBI. During this meeting, participants discussed their opposition to the Oslo Accords and their support of Hamas. Baker instructed that "if anyone should inquire about the purpose of the meeting, participants should explain that it was a 'joint workshop' between HLF and the IAP." He also stated that participants should not refer to "samah" or Hamas spelled backwards explicitly, mentioning that it would be better for participants to obscure

15525-498: The summer of 2009 to discuss Health Care Reform, Lowey chose to present her point of view on Health Care Reform in a telephone conference call, the effectiveness of which was questioned by some of her constituents. In 2018, the Democrats won the majority in the U.S House of Representatives and subsequently Congresswoman Lowey became the first Chairwoman of the House Committee on Appropriations. After she became chair, she negotiated

15660-526: The threshold returned to $ 25,000. On February 22, 2022, Nida Abu Baker, the daughter of Shukri Abu Baker produced a two part documentary on the Holy Land 5 , directed by Mohammad Omar. It discusses the controversy regarding the trial and history of the Holy Land Foundation. Chuck Schumer Active Defunct Journals TV channels Websites Other Charles Ellis Schumer ( / ˈ ʃ uː m ər / SHOO -mər ; born November 23, 1950)

15795-404: The trial. "This prosecution demonstrates our resolve to ensure that humanitarian relief efforts are not used as a mechanism to disguise and enable support for terrorist groups." The five convicted individuals were Ghassan Elashi , former CEO Shukri Abu-Baker, Mufid Abdulqader , Abdulrahman Odeh, and Mohammad El-Mezain. Because of the potential lengthy sentences for the criminal convictions ,

15930-627: The use of anonymous and hearsay evidence by the prosecutors was "constitutionally questionable" at best. Families of the men charged, known as the Holy Land Five, have demanded their release. In 1988, Shukri Abu Baker established a tax-exempt charity, called the Occupied Land Fund, based in Indiana . The following year the charity raised $ 300,000. Two years later the OLF was incorporated by Baker, Ghassan Elashi , and Mohammad el-Mezain in California and renamed

16065-456: The vote against Geraldine Ferraro (21%) and Mark Green (19%). He received 54% of the vote in the general election , defeating three-term incumbent Republican Al D'Amato (44%). In 2004, Schumer was reelected with 71% of the vote, defeating the Republican nominee, Assemblyman Howard Mills of Middletown , and conservative Marilyn F. O'Grady. Many New York Republicans were dismayed by

16200-498: The years he has served in the Senate, the only New York senator to have done so. He has a reputation for focusing on local issues important to average New Yorkers not normally associated with United States senators, ranging from tourism to local taxes to job creation. When it was revealed that Adidas planned to end its contract for the manufacture of NBA jerseys with American Classic Outfitters, an upstate New York apparel company, and outsource production overseas, Schumer blasted

16335-426: Was a list of 70–80 orphans who had received support from the HLF and that they were children of Hamas fighters. Baker and Elashi's lawyers analysed the list and found that only three of the fathers were involved in armed resistance. They had been killed preparing a bomb. They also noted that the list contained children of 11 men killed by Hamas for collaborating with the Israeli secret services. Another document contained

16470-471: Was a special case involving national security they would let the decision stand. The appellants were denied permission to appeal to the Supreme Court . In 2003 the HLF's lawyers learnt that there was a criminal investigation underway. Their lawyer, John Boyd, later said they regretted filing the civil case since it led the Government to abandon the original charges which had been so effectively refuted and create

16605-492: Was acquitted of most of the 32 charges against him. One juror mentioned that the panel found little evidence against three defendants and was split on charges against Baker and Elashi. The New York Times reported: "The decision today is 'a stunning setback for the government, there's no other way of looking at it,' said Matthew D. Orwig, a partner at Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal who was, until recently, United States Attorney for

16740-496: Was born on November 23, 1950, in Midwood, Brooklyn , the son of Selma (née Rosen) and Abraham Schumer. His father ran an exterminating business, and his mother was a homemaker . He and his family are Jewish , and he is a second cousin, once removed, of comedian Amy Schumer . His ancestors originated from the town of Chortkiv , Galicia , in what is now western Ukraine . Schumer attended Brooklyn public schools, scoring 1600 on

16875-450: Was cooperating with the prosecution. The prosecution also placed into evidence documents that, according to "Major Lior," the IDF had recovered from the Palestinian Authority headquarters in Ramallah during an IDF operation in 2002 known as " Operation Defensive Shield ." On November 24, 2008, the government obtained guilty verdicts on all counts against HLF and the five individual defendants in

17010-439: Was formerly occupied by Fawaz Mushtaha who played in the same band as one of the defendants. Peredo was in the process of landscaping his yard when he discovered a buried box of old data tapes, as well as charred cell phones, money, maps, and tape containers in the built-in outdoor grill. Additional evidence included Marzook's personal connections to the defendants, including telephone calls to El-Mazain and Baker, and listing some of

17145-487: Was insufficient then the parties could use the summaries of intercepts and other criteria – such as the phone numbers involved in the communications – to identify specific relevant intercepts in order to ask the government to review and declassify the identified intercepts. Judge Fish criticized the defendants for seeking to declare the whole of CIPA as unconstitutional rather than utilize the pathway to declassification already laid out for them on December 8, 2006. In response to

17280-533: Was introduced in the House but did not pass. In November 2001, Schumer joined fellow New York Senator Hillary Clinton to call for legislation encouraging the Federal Bureau of Investigation to share information on terrorism with local and state police by removing legal barriers to such cooperation, citing reports by New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani that federal authorities did not tell city police what they were aware of. Schumer joined Patrick Leahy to report that

17415-406: Was known to the jurors and the defense as "Avi" and an Israeli Defense Forces officer who was known to the jurors and the defense as "Major Lior." The defense lawyers were not permitted to know the names of these witnesses. The government cited legal restrictions and safety concerns to protect Avi's identity, of which the motion for protective measures was granted his testimony was based on "much of

17550-478: Was making donations to Hamas run charities, (" zakat committees") and to schools "that served Hamas's ends by encouraging children to become suicide bombers and to recruit suicide bombers by offering support to their families". In December 2005, the European Union froze its European assets. Charges were filed against senior members of the HLF on 27 July 2004. In October 2008, the United States Department of

17685-402: Was not interested in giving up her senior seat on the House Appropriations Committee. In 2004, Lowey received 69% of the vote against political newcomer Richard A. Hoffman, a Wall Street investor and largely self-funded candidate who ran on a platform of opposing special interests and cutting federal taxes. Lowey emphasized her track record on homeland security issues, notably her work to reform

17820-401: Was opposed by people who did not properly read the law. After Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy retired in 2018, Schumer voiced concern about Trump's choice of replacement, believing they would try to overturn Roe v. Wade . Nita Lowey This is an accepted version of this page Nita Sue Lowey ( / ˈ l oʊ i / LOH -ee ; née Melnikoff ; born July 5, 1937)

17955-448: Was renumbered as the 18th district after the 1990 census and became the 17th after the 2010 census. For her entire tenure, Lowey represented a large slice of New York City's northern suburbs, including most of Westchester County and all of Rockland County . She used to represent some of the far northern portions of Queens and the Bronx until redistricting after the 2000 Census removed

18090-658: Was retiring. In January 2021, Schumer became Senate Majority Leader, becoming the first Jewish Senate majority leader. As majority leader, Schumer shepherded through the Senate some of the Biden administration 's major legislative initiatives, including the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 , the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act , the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 , the CHIPS and Science Act ,

18225-650: Was succeeded by fellow Democrat Mondaire Jones . In 2018, Lowey became the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee . She announced on October 10, 2019, that she would retire and not run for re-election to Congress in 2020 . Lowey was born in the Bronx in New York City to Beatrice (Fleisher) and Jack Melnikoff. She graduated from the Bronx High School of Science as valedictorian of

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