The Movement for Moral Purity has asked Attorney-General Gali Bahrav-Myara to open a criminal investigation against Yamina MK Idit Silman, following “threatening comments” she made against MK Nir Orbach.
N12 reported on Wednesday that Silman is threatening to reveal sensitive information about Orbach if he joins a faction motion to declare her a defector.
Silman was quoted as telling a friend that “it is worth making sure that Nir remembers what I have. All his correspondence, all the reports from Bayit Yehudi, there is also additional material I received from other people... Nir will be finished after this. I will not shut up, I do intend to publish everything if Nir kicks me out. Even now, I do not speak ill of Nir, as long as he does not begin my defector process.”
The movement said that the attorney-general should investigate Silman on suspicion of extortion.
“If Silman has material that indicates Orbach’s misconduct, it is expected that she will pass it on to the relevant authorities as soon as possible,” the movement said in a statement. “In any case, she should not make improper use of them, which is bordering on a criminal act, whose entire purpose is to improve her political career.”
אם הדברים אכן נכונים הרי שמדובר בעבירה פלילית של סחיטה באיומים. על היועמ"שית לממשלה לפתוח בבדיקה של חשד בעבירה פלילית מצד חברת הכנסת סילמן. @iditsilman https://t.co/oWl66zIDmk
— Yulia Malinovsky יוליה מלינובסקי (@YuliaMalinovsky) June 8, 2022
The Movement for Quality Government also turned to the ombudsman on Thursday with a demand for a criminal investigation.
“According to reports, Silman threatened MK Orbach, harming his good name and publishing information concerning MK Orbach in a way that may intimidate or strive to ‘avoid an act he is entitled to do,’ i.e. conducting discussions in the Knesset committee regarding Silman’s dismissal,” the Movement for Quality Government wrote in a letter to the ombudsman.
According to the suspicion, Silman threatened MK Orbach, harming his good name and publishing information concerning MK Orbach in a way that may intimidate or strive to 'avoid an act he is entitled to do.'
The Movement for the Quality of Government
“Silman’s actions necessitate the opening of an investigation on suspicion of extortion by threats and at the very least on an attempt to commit this offense.
“The movement’s position is that MK Silman’s connection with other elements in the Likud party and the opposition, public employees, who together could have led to a violation of the clear provisions of the law in the matter, should be investigated.”