7/18/2028
Hi Sam,
Further research suggests you also went on another trip to Israel on
AIPAC’s dime (2019) when you were mayor or on the San Jose City Council?
True?
False?
Thanks,
Avram
According to the publicly available travel request, city records, and
congressional travel disclosures, Sam Liccardo’s documented AIEF-sponsored
trip to Israel in *December 2019* was described as an educational seminar
focused on Israeli society, security, innovation, and the U.S.–Israel
relationship.
The stated purpose of the trip included:
- Learning about Israel’s political system and society.
- Discussing regional security issues and U.S.–Israel relations.
- Visiting sites related to innovation and technology.
- Meeting with political, security, and community leaders.
- Exploring historical and religious locations.
Typical activities on these AIEF educational seminars include:
- Briefings from Israeli government and military officials.
- Discussions with foreign policy experts.
- Visits to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and other cities.
- Tours of historical, archaeological, and religious sites.
- Visits to areas near Israel’s borders to receive security briefings.
- Meetings with Israeli academics, entrepreneurs, and nonprofit leaders.
The San Jose City Council memorandum authorizing Liccardo’s travel
specifically identified the trip as an *Educational Seminar in Israel for
Pacific Northwest Progressive Leaders*, with travel to *Jerusalem, Tel
Aviv, and Tiberias*, and stated that all travel expenses would be paid by
the *American Israel Education Foundation (AIEF)*.
The value of the trip reported in ethics disclosures was approximately
*$12,345*, covering airfare, lodging, meals, and other travel-related
expenses, paid by AIEF under applicable ethics rules.
If you’re interested, I can also summarize the *day-by-day itinerary* for
the 2019 seminar, including the cities visited and the types of meetings
and site visits participants attended.
On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 3:16 PM Aram James
wrote:
> Sam,
>
>
> Is the below information accurate?
>
> The publicly available House travel disclosure for Sam Liccardo’s
> congressional trip to Israel, the reported value of the trip was
> approximately *$12,345.02*.
>
> The sponsor-reported breakdown was:
>
> - Transportation: *$5,598.40*
> - Lodging: *$1,696.00*
> - Meals: *$1,260.06*
> - Other expenses (such as ground transportation, guides, admissions,
> etc.): *$3,790.56*
>
> *Total reported value:* *$12,345.02*.
>
> According to the disclosure, these expenses were paid by the *American
> Israel Education Foundation (AIEF)*, a nonprofit affiliated with AIPAC
> that sponsors educational travel for members of Congress under House ethics
> rules.
>
> If you’re interested, I can also summarize *who Liccardo met on the trip,
> what sites he visited, and the stated purpose of the travel* from the
> official itinerary and ethics filings.
>
>
> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 2:47 PM Aram James wrote:
>
>> Sam,
>>
>> Is the below information correct?
>>
>> I searched for additional records covering Sam Liccardo’s career before
>> and after entering Congress.
>>
>> Based on the publicly available evidence I could find:
>>
>> - *There is one publicly documented official trip to Israel.*
>> - *The trip was paid for by the American Israel Education Foundation
>> (AIEF)*, a nonprofit organization affiliated with AIPAC that sponsors
>> educational trips for members of Congress.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 11:21 AM Aram James wrote:
>>
>>> Youre welcome, Sam!! I will get back to you with a more substantive
>>> response in the near future. In the meantime, I have a few questions for
>>> you below. I look forward to your responses.
>>>
>>> Peace,
>>>
>>> Avram Finkelstein aka Aram James
>>>
>>> **One of your proud Jewish constituents who wants the vile war-crimes
>>> state of Israel eliminated.
>>>
>>> P.S.
>>>
>>> 1 How many times have you traveled to Israel?
>>>
>>> 2. If so, under what circumstances?
>>>
>>> 3. Were your trips to Israel, if you in fact went, paid for by AIPAC
>>> money?
>>>
>>> 4. If not, who paid for your trips?
>>>
>>> 5. When you were mayor of San Jose or on city council, who paid for
>>> your trips to Israel?
>>>
>>> 6. Have you traveled to Palestine? Gaza? West Bank? Other locations in
>>> Palestine?
>>>
>>> 7. If not, why have you not taken a fact-finding trip to Gaza and the
>>> West Bank?
>>>
>>> 8. Have you publicly called for a one-state solution?
>>>
>>> 9. Have you publicly condemned Israel 🇮🇱 as a war-crimes genocidal
>>> state? If Not, Why Not?
>>>
>>> 19. Have you publicly called for the elimination of the rogue apartheid
>>> state, war-crimes state of Israel? If Not, Why Not, Sam?
>>>
>>> ****Sam, Im proud of you for your willingness to open up a constructive
>>> conversation with me on this critical issue. Look forward to more of the
>>> same.
>>>
>>> Avram “Eliminate The State of Israel Now” Finkelstein
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 8:00 AM Sam Liccardo
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Thanks Aram.
>>>> First, you’re incorrect: I’ve never received money directly from AIPAC,
>>>> and they’re certainly not giving to me now. They will not accept
>>>> contributions for me on their website, unlike hundreds of other members of
>>>> Congress. Among the reasons why they won’t ever contribute to me is my
>>>> cosponsorship of the “Block the Bombs” bill, and public statements like
>>>> this:
>>>> https://liccardo.house.gov/massie-amendment
>>>>
>>>> I’m sure I’ve received contributions from local community residents who
>>>> are members of AIPAC, though not nearly as much as my opponent in 2024, and
>>>> I’m also confident I received more contributions from members of the Muslim
>>>> or Arab-American communities who object to the conduct of the Israeli
>>>> leadership. I had to raise $6 million in that race, so the amounts you’re
>>>> citing are less than 2% of my raise in that cycle.
>>>> In your future missives, I encourage you to present facts more
>>>> accurately and with relevant context.
>>>> Sam
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> Sam Liccardo
>>>> Member of Congress
>>>> 16th District of California
>>>> (this email is being sent from my private account, and is not official
>>>> correspondence)
>>>>
>>>> On Sat, Jul 18, 2026 at 12:30 AM Aram James wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> For Sam Liccardo’s successful 2024 House campaign:
>>>>>
>>>>> - *Direct AIPAC PAC contributions:* *$10,000* (the maximum PAC
>>>>> contribution for the primary and general election combined). This would
>>>>> appear in FEC filings as a contribution from the AIPAC PAC.
>>>>> - *Including AIPAC-affiliated individual donors:* Public campaign
>>>>> finance trackers report a total of *about $80,000–$90,000* in
>>>>> support associated with AIPAC’s network during the 2023–2024 cycle. This
>>>>> larger figure includes donations from individuals identified as part of
>>>>> AIPAC’s donor network, not just the PAC itself.
>>>>>
>>>>> So if someone says “Liccardo took *$10,000 from AIPAC*,” they’re
>>>>> referring only to the PAC’s direct contribution. If they cite a figure
>>>>> around *$80,000–$90,000*, they’re using a broader methodology that
>>>>> includes affiliated individual donors as well.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you’d like, I can also break down:
>>>>>
>>>>> - the exact FEC entries for the $10,000,
>>>>> - who the major AIPAC-affiliated individual donors were, or
>>>>> - how Liccardo compares with other California members of Congress
>>>>> on AIPAC-linked fundraising.
>>>>>
>>>>>