WASHINGTON — Two Minnesotans will testify this week at the third in a series of controversial Congressional hearings on Muslim radicalization in America.

William Anders Folk, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, and St. Paul Police Chief Tom Smith are among those testifying on the subject, "Al-Shabaab: Recruitment and Radicalization within the Muslim American Community and the Threat to the Homeland" before the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday.

Earlier this month a Minneapolis man pleaded guilty to helping Al-Shabaab recruit Somali men to travel there and fight in various conflicts in the country.

The Homeland Security Committee and its chairman, Peter King of New York, have drawn fire from American Muslims who saying the hearings tinge with discrimination against their community. Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, testified at the first hearing and has called them "counterproductive and destructive to the goal of protecting the country.”

Devin Henry can be reached at dhenry@minnpost.com.