Conservative Congressman Criticizes Bachmann's Muslim Brotherhood Claims

Think Progress reported yesterday on remarks by conservative Wisconsin Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner strongly defending the 1st Amendment's religious freedom protections as well as the constitutional ban on religious tests for federal office.  The remarks came in Sensenbrenner's rejection of charges by Rep. Michelle Bachmann, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, that the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated government policies and activities.  Bachmann last month sent a letters to the inspectors general of 5 federal agencies demanding that they investigate.(Links to full text of each letter.)  When challenged by Rep. Kieth Ellison, Bachmann responed with a 16-page letter (full text) particularly singling out Huma Abedin, a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Last week, Sen. John McCain, in a speech on the floor of the Sentate (full text) strongly defended Abedin, saying: "When anyone, not least a member of Congress, launches specious and degrading attacks against fellow Americans on the basis of nothing more than fear of who they are and ignorance of what they stand for, it defames the spirit of our nation, and we all grow poorer because of it."