Rogan Meets With Area Muslim Leader

Rep. James E. Rogan (R-Glendale) retreated Friday night from allegations he and the manager of his reelection campaign had revived this week about the purported “pro-terrorist sympathies” of a Los Angeles Muslim leader.

During a half-hour meeting at the Glendale Hilton Hotel with the Muslim leader, Salam Al-Marayati, Rogan gave Al-Marayati a letter stating the lawmaker had seen no statements “indicating you encourage or support terrorism.”

Al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, said Rogan apologized to him but the congressman’s chief of staff, Dan Revetto, said only, “The letter speaks for itself.”

“I have reviewed statements attributed to you,” Rogan told Al-Marayati in the letter. “Many of them were hostile toward Israel. As a longtime supporter of Israel, I strongly reject those sentiments. However, provocative foreign policy opinions do not equate with pro-terrorist opinions. I find nothing in your previous statements that I have seen indicating you encourage or support terrorism.”

Al-Marayati has said he unequivocally opposes terrorism.

Rogan and Al-Marayati were at the Hilton for a Glendale Chamber of Commerce banquet.

The controversy erupted earlier this week when Jason Roe, Rogan’s campaign manager, criticized Rogan’s Democratic challenger, state Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank), for attending a Sunday forum on alcohol and crime because it was co-hosted by Al-Marayati.

Roe cited major Jewish organizations that had objected to Al-Marayati’s nomination last year by House Democratic Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.) to a commission on terrorism.

Roe said Al-Marayati “seems to be an apologist for Muslim terrorists.” He said Schiff’s appearance at the forum “raises questions about the associations [Schiff] plans to keep” if elected to Congress.

On Wednesday, Rogan issued a statement, saying he had declined to meet with Al-Marayati because the American Jewish Congress and other “credible and respected sources” had raised the allegations.

In his letter, Rogan focused on his campaign manager having revived the allegations of the Jewish groups.

“Upon reflection, [Roe] regrets having done this because it created an unintended interpretation,” Rogan wrote.

After the meeting, Al-Marayati said Rogan had expressed “genuine regret for what had happened.”

“He was very straightforward,” Al-Marayati said.