He served in the external intelligence unit in the early 1970's, a time when police departments sometimes investigated political organizations.

For that reason, he added, he would not rule out investigating individuals and organizations that benefited from Mr. Cluff's spending, including elected officials.

"We investigate organizations that have good intelligence, are well run, very secretive and covert and extremely dangerous," she said.

Mr. Newcomb also noted that it was difficult to separate legitimate money from that destined for terrorists when investigating Saudi organizations.

The commission does not actively investigate organizations for their links to terrorism, he said, and often relies on tips from the public to prompt investigations.

Neither could he persuade the Democrats to pass a raft of bills aimed at giving state and local police greater authority to investigate terrorist organizations.

In response, the state formed the Schlebusch Commission in 1972 to investigate anti-apartheid Christian organizations.

It is legitimate, of course, to investigate individuals or organizations where there is credible suspicion that they are engaged in or planning criminal conduct.

She urged Americans in and out of government to start investigating organizations that might be supporting anti-Muslim terror.

Reports Are Available State agencies and charity watchdog groups investigate organizations, examining their annual reports and making them public.