Democrats' IT scandal: Ex-staffer expected to receive probation

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Imran Awan

Imran Awan, a former email server administrator to ex-Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to loan application fraud, one day after the release of a secret memo detailing how more than 40 House offices experienced an "IT security violation."

"Imran cooperated with the investigation for 19 months, he answered every single question law enforcement had, and turned over every document requested," Chris Gowen, Awan's attorney, said in a statement Tuesday. "With the exception of calling both his family’s house and rental property primary residences on a bank loan application, Imran has been completely exonerated today."

"My client regrets that error and looks forward to serving his country again in the future," Gowen added.

Imran Awan and Hina Alvi, his wife, were indicted by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in August for "conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, making false statements on a loan or credit application, and engaging in unlawful monetary transactions."

Awan was arrested last July amid the scandal after being intercepted at Dulles International Airport by members of the FBI, U.S. Capitol Police, and Customs and Border Protection over his alleged involvement in "double charging" for House IT equipment and possibly exposing private House information online. Alvi voluntarily returned to the U.S. after flying to Pakistan.

Awan and Alvi were investigated by the law enforcement agencies over discrepancies regarding computer equipment bought when the two were employed as tech staffers for numerous House Democrats. A probe found tens of thousands of dollars or more in IT equipment had been stolen.

The pair also attracted interest from right-of-center media outlets, which speculated that the Pakistani-born Awan and Alvi, as well as other people related to the investigations, could have played a role in significant data breaches during their respective tenures.

Wasserman Schultz was heavily criticized by political opponents for her decision not to fire Awan, a part-time employee who had worked for as many as 25 Democratic lawmakers over the past decade, until his arrest was made public.

Awan's plea deal follows the release of a memo on Monday written in part by House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Irving describing the disappearance of a House Democratic Caucus server.

Awan is due to be sentenced on August 22 and will no longer be required to wear a GPS ankle monitor as he waits for the hearing, according to Fox News. His legal team is expected to ask for probation, per the news outlet.