IT Aide of Former US DNC Chief Arrested - Reports

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Imran Awan, an IT staffer at the US congressional computer equipment center who was working for Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the former Democratic National Committee (DNC) chairwoman, was arrested at Washington D.C.'s Dulles Airport while trying to flee the country, media reported.

According to the Fox News broadcaster, Awan, 37, was arrested on Monday on suspicion of bank fraud. He is reportedly believed to be at the center of a scheme to double-bill the House of Representatives for IT equipment. Awan is also suspected of disclosing sensitive information of the lower house of Congress to outside sources.

Schultz's spokesman David Damron said in a statement that Awan was fired on Tuesday, according to the broadcaster.

Wasserman Schultz served as co-chair for Hillary Clinton's unsuccessful 2008 presidential campaign and became chairperson of the DNC in May 2011.

In July 2016, Wasserman Schultz resigned from her DNC position after whistleblowing website Wilileaks released hacked emails revealing she and other DNC staff acted to influence the presidential primary process in favor of candidate Hillary Clinton and against US Senator Bernie Sanders.

Clinton's campaign said Russian hackers could be behind the leak to help then-Republican nominee Donald Trump in the race for presidency. Trump mocked Clinton’s campaign for the accusation, while the Kremlin has dismissed the allegations as absurd.