Steven Emerson

Steven Emerson is an internationally recognized expert on terrorism and national security, award-winning investigative journalist, and author. Consulted by the White House, National Security Council, FBI, Justice Department, Congress and intelligence agencies, Mr. Emerson is in great demand as one of the most astute, insightful and knowledgeable experts in the world today on the threat and prospects of militant Islamic terrorism. He is the founder and Executive Director of The Investigative Project, one of the world's largest archival data and intelligence on Islamic and Middle Eastern terrorist groups.

Consulted by the White House, National Security Council, FBI, Justice Department, Congress and intelligence agencies, Mr. Emerson is in great demand as one of the most astute, insightful and knowledgeable experts in the world today on the threat and prospects of militant Islamic terrorism. Since 9/11, Mr. Emerson has testified and briefed Congress dozens of times on terrorist financing and operational networks of Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hizzbollah, Islamic Jihad, and the rest of the worldwide Islamic militant spectrum.

Mr. Emerson's 2002 bestselling book, "American Jihad: The Terrorists Living Among Us," provides the first context and understanding for how one of the most notorious terrorist groups in the world could have plotted the worst terrorist attack on American soil without detection or scrutiny by American authorities. His newest book, "Jihad Incorporated: A Guide to Militant Islam in the U.S.," emphasizes current radical activities in the United States and the threat they may pose to national security. He has been quoted in more than 500 news articles and has appeared frequently on network television.

Mr. Emerson started The Investigative Project in late 1995, following the broadcast of his documentary film, "Jihad in America," on Public Television. The film exposed video of clandestine operations of militant Islamic terrorist groups on American soil. For the film, Mr. Emerson received numerous awards including the George Polk Award for best television documentary, one of the most prestigious awards in journalism. He also received the top prize from the Investigative Reporters and Editors Organization (IRE) for best investigative report in both print and television for the documentary. The award from the IRE was the fourth such award he had received from that group. The documentary, which was excerpted on "60 Minutes," is now standard viewing for federal law enforcement and intelligence organizations.

Mr. Emerson is recognized as having been the first and only terrorist expert to have testified and warned about the threat of Islamic militant networks operating in the United States and their connections worldwide. He specifically warned about the threat of Osama Bin Laden's network in pioneering Congressional testimony delivered in 1998. Nearly every one of the terrorist suspects and groups first identified in his 1994 film have been indicted, prosecuted or deported since 9/11. Because of security threats, Mr. Emerson now lives under false cover in the United States.

Mr. Emerson has authored or co-authored six books: "Jihad Incorporated: A Guide to Militant Islam in the U.S."; "American Jihad: The Terrorists Living Among Us" (Free Press, 2002); "Terrorist: The Inside Story of the Highest-Ranking Iraqi Terrorist Ever to Defect to the West" (Villard/Random House, 1991); "The Fall of Pan Am 103: Inside the Lockerbie Investigation" (Putnam, 1990); "Secret Warriors: Inside the Covert Military Operations of the Reagan Era" (Putnam, 1988); and "The American House of Saud: The Secret Petrodollar Connection" (Franklin Watts, 1985).

Former head of NSC Counterterrorism Richard Clarke has said, "I think of Steve as the Paul Revere of terrorism... [Clarke] credits Emerson with repeatedly warning of Al Qaeda sleeper cells in the United States. He adds that he would attend Emerson's speeches whenever possible because 'we'd always learn things we weren't hearing from the FBI or CIA, things which almost always proved to be true.'"

Andrew McCarthy, the Assistant U.S. Attorney who prosecuted the 1993 World Trade Center bombings, said "Emerson was helpful in preparing to cross-examine defense witnesses in the [1993 World Trade Center bombings] case...He's a valuable source of information and knowledge. And in terms of trying to find places to look for evidence, he's a very good person to talk to. Hes got a lot of insight."

Robert Blitzer, former Chief of the FBI's Domestic Terrorism/Counter-Terrorism Planning Section, has said, "Steve Emerson has tremendous information and I have no doubt that he is better informed in many areas of terrorism than we were in the government."