Source: The New York Times
On December 5, 2001, The New York Times reported "Bush Freezes Assets of Biggest U.S. Muslim Charity, Calling It a Deadly Terror Group." The article noted that "Mr. Bush accused the charity of supporting Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that took responsibility for three suicide bombings in Israel over the weekend." It continued, "Treasury officials said the charity, the Holy Land Foundation for Relief and Development, based in Richardson, Tex., had been under investigation since 1993. ... Officials said the group relied on American charities that solicit funds in many mosques around the country for tens of millions of dollars each year. Hamas has long said that the money goes to social causes, easing the suffering of Palestinians. The Treasury and F.B.I. say they have evidence the money is siphoned to the organization's terrorist arm. ... Mr. Bush and Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill said today that they believe many Muslims who contributed to the Holy Land Foundation did not know where their money was going."