A House Republican has introduced a censure resolution against Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), accusing her of making “hateful comments” and displaying a “history of anti-Semitism.” The move comes after Omar suggested that some Jewish students might be “pro-genocide.”
Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced the measure, which seeks to formally rebuke Omar for her “recent hateful comments and history of anti-Semitism.” The resolution cites remarks made by Omar while speaking to a reporter at Columbia University, where the congresswoman claimed that she had just met Jewish students who were “pro-genocide.”
Bacon’s resolution argues that Omar’s “long and demonstrated history of hateful rhetoric” plays into “the worst anti-Semitic tropes” and accuses her of spreading slander against Jewish students. The measure also notes a spike in anti-Semitic incidents across the United States and points to Omar’s previous comments about Israel that led to her removal from the Foreign Affairs Committee.
In a statement, Bacon said that Omar’s recent remarks show her “increasing disregard for the Jewish people” and perpetuate anti-Semitism in the country. He also called on the House of Representatives to take a firm stance and condemn her “divisive and racist” comments.
🚨Today, I introduced a resolution to censure Ilhan Omar for her antisemitic rhetoric. We must stop the pro-Hamas agitators wreaking havoc on college campuses, and that starts by holding their enablers in Congress accountable. pic.twitter.com/UwvPmnzM2J
— Don Bacon 🇺🇸 🥓 ✈️ 🏍️ (@DonJBacon) May 7, 2024
While a censure is a less severe form of punishment than expulsion, it is still a formal reprimand and has been used in the past as a way to hold members of Congress accountable for their actions. In recent years, Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) have all been censured for various reasons.
A spokesperson for Omar argued that her comments were being misconstrued and that she has “clearly condemned anti-Semitism and bigotry for all Jewish students.” They also accused those behind the censure resolution of trying to distract from the ongoing conflict in Gaza and anti-war protests.
Ilhan Omar confronted over her comments calling some Columbia Jewish students ‘pro-genocide.’
Reporter: “Congresswoman do you regret the comments you made about some Jewish students being pro-genocide?”
She refuses to respond. pic.twitter.com/n3T78tXfI5
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) May 1, 2024
Republicans are calling for action against Ilhan Omar for her divisive and dangerous rhetoric. They argue that her comments only serve to fuel anti-Semitism and endanger the Jewish community. This is a necessary step to hold her accountable and send a clear message that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated.
Speaker Johnson is contemplating a resolution that would censure Ilhan Omar for “pro-genocide” remarks. pic.twitter.com/Ai5oz4n5Ce
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) April 30, 2024
