US Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) speaking at a press conference at the US Capitol. Photo: Michael Brochstein/Sipa USA via Reuters Connect

US Rep. Seth Moulton (D-MA) has refused to answer whether he would forgo funding from Qatar days after he announced he would no longer accept financial assistance from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). 

Moulton announced last week that he would no longer work with AIPAC, the preeminent pro-Israel lobbying firm in the US, accusing the group of harboring close ties with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative government. Moulton, who has recently entered the Democratic primary for Senator, added that he would return all funds to AIPAC. However, the representative stressed that he continues to support Israel’s right to self defense and existence. 

The representative, however, has accepted financial assistance from the government of Qatar, according to reporting by the Washington Free Beacon. Moulton accepted a lavish trip to the gulf state paid for by the Qatari government and accepted campaign donations from a Qatari-linked lobbying firm, according to documents reviewed by the Free Beacon. During Moulton’s 2020 four day excursion to Qatar, in which the government covered food and housing, he visited the Qatar Foundation. Moulton praised Qatar, predicting that the terror-aligned state has “great potential,” and that he foresees “the friendship between the two countries to grow in the future.” Moulton also accepted roughly $11,500 from Nelson Mullins, a lobbying firm with operatives connected to Qatar, according to documents reviewed by the outlet. 

Moulton’s announcement comes on the heels of his newly-launched Senate campaign. According to various polls, Israel has plummeted in popularity with Democratic voters, with a majority believing that the Jewish state has committed a so-called “genocide” in Gaza. Some speculate whether Moulton’s refusal to accept AIPAC funding is part of a calculated effort to distance himself with the Jewish state and neutralize potential confrontations with party activists.

Although Moulton has vowed to return funds donated by AIPAC, he has yet to declare that he would no longer accept funds from those connected to the Qatari government. Moulton’s office did not return requests for comment from The Algemeiner on whether the representative would stop taking funds from Qatar. 

Qatar, a small Gulf nation in the Middle East, has extensive and well-documented connections to the Hamas terrorist group. The Gulf nation hosts several Hamas political leaders in Doha and has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Gaza, which critics say has indirectly bolstered the militant group’s control. Israel, along with several Western states, have accused Qatar of serving as a lifeline for the terrorist group. 

Moreover, many skeptics argue that Qatar has a growing influence in the United States, pointing to the gulf nation’s expanding footprint in government, higher education, media, and entertainment.

The gulf nation has spent roughly $72 million on US lobbying firms since 2016 with the goal of improving the country’s image, according to a report by the Middle East Forum.

Through multimillion-dollar donations to leading universities, high-profile lobbying efforts in Washington, and partnerships with major media and sports organizations, the Gulf nation has positioned itself as a key player shaping narratives and policy debates.