A campaign staffer for Rep. Michele Bachmann has been accused of alleged terrorism in Uganda. According to The Atlantic, Peter E. Waldron was arrested for activities in the country in 2006.

Waldron is responsible for Bachmann’s faith-based organizing in Iowa and South Carolina. He told The Atlantic that he was imprisoned in Uganda along with six Congolese and Ugandan nationals for possession of four illegal guns and 184 rounds of live ammunition in February 2006 while working as an Information Technology consultant for the Ministry of Health. He had been living in Uganda since 2002.

“Michele’s faith is an important part of her life and Peter did a tremendous job with our faith outreach in Iowa,” Bachmann’s press secretary told The Atlantic. “We are fortunate to have him on our team and look forward to having him expanding his efforts in several states.”

Waldron spent 37 days in the Luriza Prison, where he was reportedly tortured. The terrorism charges were dropped, largely in part because of pressure from the Bush administration. Waldron then returned to the United States and continued his work as a Republican political consultant.

The Ugandan inspector general said Waldron was suspected of having ties to a terrorism organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo and was planning to set up a Christian political party in Uganda. Waldron has since denied these charges and stated he did not have any weapons.

During an interview in 2009 on a Christian television talk show, Waldron said that “Biblical principles are eternal” and “must be applied today in light of the recent election,” because the United States had turned “to socialism, away from our historic democracy, our republic, our free enterprise, our capitalist system.”

“I have worked in every presidential campaign since 1980,” Waldron wrote on his Facebook page July 27. “One’s faith is always critical to me. Alan Keyes and Dr. Gary Bauer were terrific Christian, pro-life candidates.

Yet, I’ve never worked for a candidate more anointed, in love with the LORD, and has a Biblical World View like Michele Bachmann. She is an extraordinary woman of God and Member of Congress. She will make a great President.”

Particularly disturbing in this scene is that Waldron was allegedly trying to set up a Christian political party in Uganda. For anyone familiar with Uganda politics, you already know that American Christians are at least partly to blame for the extreme homophobia taking place in the African country.

The controversial, “Kill the Gays” bill was rationalized by Ugandan politicians after seeing American evangelists speak. If Waldron was indeed trying to influence Uganda politics, he might have more sinister ties that carrying weapons.

Either way, it is distressing that Bachmann dismisses any concern about Waldron’s ties to terrorism. I am absolutely positive if the roles were reversed, (remember Obama’s controversial minister) the GOP would be outraged. Instead, this is not even news.

Image Courtesy of  http://www.facebook.com/RepMicheleBachmann

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About the author

Erin Chavez
Erin Whitney-Chavez has been writing professionally since 2009. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts from St. Bonaventure University and received a Master of Arts in mental-health counseling from Argosy University. Erin Whitney-Chavez is a licensed mental health counselor and has worked in the mental-health field for more than 10 years.

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