{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://pittenger.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pittenger-calls-for-investigation-into-obama-admin-interference-with", "Pittenger Calls for Investigation into Obama Admin interference with Hezbollah Investigation", "2017-12-19", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NC", "Robert Pittenger", "P000606", "pittenger.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\n PITTENGER CALLS FOR PROBE INTO OBAMA ADMINISTRATION INTERFERENCE IN HEZBOLLAH INVESTIGATION \n\nWASHINGTON Today, Congressman Robert Pittenger (NC-09) sent a letter to Chairman Trey Gowdy of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform urging an investigation into the Obama Administrations alleged interference in a multi-agency investigation into Hezbollahs illegal drug dealing, money laundering and arms running.\nNow, it appears in order to secure his deeply flawed Iran Deal, President Obama and his administration shielded the Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah from a major US multi-agency investigation targeting Hezbollahs global criminal operation which included drug dealing, money laundering and arms running,said Congressman Pittenger.\nThese revelations are shocking and infuriating.\nWhile American soldiers were bravely fighting ISIS terrorists, with some paying the ultimate price, the Obama administration reportedly was protecting Hezbollah terrorists who were funding themselves by trafficking illegal drugs. No wonder President Obama couldnt bring himself to call them Radical Islamist Terrorists,said Congressman Pittenger.\nThis is the same administration that sent $1.7 billion in cash ransom to Iran.\nThe growing nexus between terrorist organizations and Latin American drug cartels poses a grave threat to our national security, especially considering the porous state of our southern border. Last month, I hosted a forum in Buenos Aires for 220 Members of Parliament and government officials from 15 South American countries with government and private sector experts to address the critical challenge of intercepting drug related funding of terrorism.\nA copy of the letter can be foundhere.\nCongressman Pittenger serves as Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare, and Vice Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Terrorism and Illicit Finance.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://pittenger.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pittenger-calls-for-investigation-into-obama-admin-interference-with"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4524469152092934, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}