Mike Thompson Trip Financed by Saddam Hussein

(March 27, 2008)

California Congressman Mike Thompson's famous fact-finding mission to Iraq in 2002 was paid for by Saddam Hussein, according to the U.S. justice department. Representative Thompson did not know the source of the funding for the trip, which he says was approved in advance by the State Department.

Mike Thompson has consistently voted for the funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, while at times criticizing the conduct of the war by the Bush administration. According to the New York Times, "The three-man Congressional delegation was criticized on its return to Washington as having undermined the Bush administration." The other two congressment who made the trip were Jim McDermott of Washington State and David E. Bonior of Michigan.