University hires former Islamic terrorist as homeland security expert

George Washington University hired a de-radicalized Muslim extremist to work at its Center for Cyber and Homeland Security, according to a CNN report.

Younus Abdullah Muhammad — who changed his name to Jesse Morton — was a recruiter for Al Qaeda and denounced the United States. Five years ago, he threatened the creators of the TV series “South Park” for depicting the Prophet Muhammad in a bear suit.

Seamus Hughes, deputy director of the Program on Extremism at GW’s Center for Cyber and Homeland Security, told CNN that Morton would bring a “unique perspective” to studying counterterrorism. “We haven’t figured out how to reach that individual who’s going down the path of radicalization,” Hughes said. “Jesse has been in that world and got out of that world.”

“I have a background in radicalizing others,” Morton said. “I understand the mentality, I understand also what attracts people to the ideology. I also understand how to counter that as a result.”

Morton, 37, was born to an abusive Pennsylvania household and was sought out by extremist groups. He’s served jail time for drug-related offenses. In a Virginia jail he met an Islamic extremist and one of his followers, beginning what he described as his “indoctrination” process.