EXCLUSIVE: Controversial Professor Arrested in Florida was White House Guest Posted Feb. 21, 2003 By Kenneth R. Timmerman "A controversial professor who was arrested by federal agents in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 20 had sufficient political connections to be invited to the White House in late May or early June 2001, three months before the al-Qaeda attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and to have a photograph taken with President George W. Bush, Insight has learned ..." "The "meet and greet" session at the White House with Bush in late May or early June 2001 was not the first time Al-Arian had managed to get close to the president. During the 2000 election campaign, the USF professor and alleged U.S. money man for terrorists attended a Bush fund-raiser in Florida where he was photographed with the presidential candidate despite Secret Service protection for the GOP contender ..." "All such guests are screened by the Secret Service in conjunction with other federal agencies for any outstanding criminal warrants, investigations or illegal activities. They may, however, be cleared "on higher authority." "