Screengrab via Fox News Philip Haney pictured during one of his many appearances on cable news.
Philip Haney, the author of “See Something, Say Nothing: A Homeland Security Officer Exposes the Government’s Submission to Jihad,” has died at the age of 66. In addition to being an author, Haney was a long-time Department of Homeland Security expert with a focus on Islamic extremism.
Haney previously said that he did at the Department of Homeland Security what he did with bugs, “[he] followed the trail and found the nest.” Haney was a founding member of the Department of Homeland Security in 2002. Haney’s first role with the department was a Customs & Border Protection agriculture officer. Previously, Haney had worked a scientist in the Middle East. Haney was later based at the National Targeting Center in Washington D.C. when he was promoted to work with the Advanced Targeting Center. Haney retired from the Department of Homeland Security in 2015.
Fox News reports that Haney died following a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Haney had been missing since February 19. He was discovered inside of his car outside of San Francisco on the morning of Friday, February 21.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. A Fox News Contributor Said That Haney Was ‘Murdered’
Reports of Haney’s death first appeared on the morning of February 22. Fox News’ contributor Sara A. Carter tweeted regarding Haney’s death saying, “Somebody I deeply respected and considered a friend Phil Haney – a DHS whistleblower during the Obama Admin was apparently killed yesterday in Southern California. Pray for his family and pray they find the person who murdered him. Still trying to get confirmation on details.”
2. Haney’s Wife Passed Away in 2019 After a Battle With Cancer
Heavy has confirmed Haney’s passing through various social media from friends and family members of Haney’s. Haney’s wife, Francesca, passed away in June 2019 following a battle with cancer. The couple had one daughter, Sara. According to Francesca Haney’s Facebook page, she was an ordained minister and previously served as the chaplain for the Cobb Detention Center.
Facebook/Philip HaneyHaney outside of the Rachel’s Tomb in Israel.
According to his Facebook page, Haney was living in Plymouth, California, 40 miles east of Sacramento. Online records show that Haney lived in 2019 in Leesburg, Virginia. A statement on author Andrew Boston’s Twitter page, said that Haney had returned to California following the death of his wife. That statement also said that Haney was engaged to be married later in 2020. The statement adds that friends of Haney’s say that there was “no way” he would have taken his own life.
There are unfounded rumors on social media that Haney was killed having been shot dead. There are no reports of a shooting in the area around Plymouth, California.
3. One Review of Haney’s Book Said it Was an ‘Expose of a Politically Correct Government
One review of Haney’s book described it as an “exposé of a “politically correct” federal government that capitulates to a subversive enemy within and punishes those who reject its narrative.”
During a 2015 appearance on Fox News, Haney said that his work in the Department of Homeland Security had been curtailed and that if it were able to continue, it may have prevented the 2015 San Bernardino shooting. According to Haney, among the places that he was investigating was a mosque attended by the shooter, Syed Farook. Haney alleged that his investigation was curtailed by the Obama administration. Haney said, “Either Syed would have been put on the no-fly list because association with that mosque, and/or the K-1 visa that his wife was given may have been denied because of his association with a known organization.”
4. Haney Testified in 2016 that the Obama Administration Could Have Prevented the Orlando Pulse Nightclub Shooting
In 2016, Haney testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee chaired by Senator Ted Cruz to allege that the Obama administration had acted irresponsibly with regard to Islamic extremism. Haney claimed that the administration had acted in favor of “political correctness” rather than take actions that may have prevented the June 2016 Pulse night club shooting in Orlando or the San Bernardino shooting in December 2015.
Haney also alleged that the Obama administration destroyed or changed 800 of his files relating to the Muslim Brotherhood because they were deemed offensive to Muslim people.
5. Following Haney’s 2016 Senate Testimony, the Secretary of Homeland Security Said that He Had Never Heard of Haney
During the hearings, former United States Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson, told Senator Cruz, “I don’t know who Mr. Hanen is. I wouldn’t know him if he walked in the room.” Politico noted in their report that Johnson mispronounced Haney’s name “on multiple occasions.”
Johnson said during his testimony that he had no knowledge of Haney’s claims.
The last publicly visible Facebook post on Haney’s page was meme protesting against the impeachment of U.S. President Donald Trump
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