From Jeff Stein’s Spytalk:

Perhaps not since Whittaker Chambers accused Alger Hiss of being a Russian mole at a hearing 60 years ago next week has a journalist made more waves from the witness table than the press gallery.

But when controversial reporter/author/blogger/anti-terrorist crusader Steven Emerson testifies today at a hearing on Islamist groups and U.S. foreign aid, the air in the committee room should be crackling.

Muslim groups have already demonstrated outside the office of Rep. Brad Sherman, D-Calif, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, protesting Emerson’s scheduled testimony today.

The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) have carried on “a public relations campaign to silence Steven Emerson,” according to the Counterterrorism Blog, where Emerson is listed as a Contributing Expert.

ISNA sent out an “Urgent Action Alert” to its membership calling for it to lobby Sherman to either provide “balanced, qualified testimony”… [or demand that] “the session be canceled.” MPAC sent a similar letter to Sherman and also issued “demands” calling for its membership to lobby for silencing Steven Emerson or for Congress to “cancel or postpone” the hearing.

ISNA charges Emerson with “Islamaphobia” [sic] and “hate mongering,” while MPAC charges Steven Emerson with “bigotry.”

It’s hardly the first time that Emerson’s views on Islam have triggered outrage.