Republicans[1] and Jewish groups ramped up their calls Monday for Democrats to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar[2] from the House Foreign Affairs Committee[3] in response to the latest anti-Semitism uproar involving the first-term congresswoman.
Rep. Andy Biggs, Arizona Republican, said Ms. Omar[4] should be jettisoned from the committee[5] after her recent blast about pledging “allegiance to a foreign country,” a reference to Israel[6], which has been denounced as an anti-Semitic trope.
“She [Omar[7]] is definitely anti-Semitic and Nita[8]’s right, but Nita[9] doesn’t go far enough,” said Mr. Biggs on Fox News, adding, “I think she needs to be removed from her committee assignment. That’s the least we can do.”
Meanwhile, 11 pro-Israel[10] groups, led by the Endowment for Middle East Truth, fired off a letter[11] Monday to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi requesting that she “immediately remove” Ms. Omar[12] from the committee[13].
Two top Democratic chairs — House Foreign Affairs Committee[14] chairman Eliot Engel[15] and House Appropriations Committee chairwoman Nita Lowey[16] — have asked the Minnesota Democrat to retract last week’s comments, but Republicans[17] say Democrats need to do more.
Sen. Rick Scott, Florida Republican, said Sunday that Democrats need to reassign Ms. Omar[18], who has been accused repeatedly of making anti-Semitic remarks since being sworn in in January.
“This is unacceptable. Once again @Ilhan[19] has made disgusting anti-Semitic remarks,” Mr. Scott tweeted. “How many times does this have to happen before @SpeakerPelosi removes her from the Foreign Affairs Committee?”
Mrs. Pelosi also came under criticism for touting her appearance on the March cover of Rolling Stone magazine with Ms. Omar[20], who were featured along with Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Jahana Hayes of Connecticut.
“Pretending to condemn @IlhanMN’s anti-semitism while embracing her on this cover & claiming she embodies ‘millions of dreams to women & girls across America’ is disgraceful and immoral,” Ms. Cheney tweeted.
@Ilhan[21] has made disgusting anti-Semitic remarks. How many times does this have to happen before @SpeakerPelosi[22] removes her from the Foreign Affairs Committee?This is unacceptable. Once again
We must always stand against bigotry.
https://t.co/yBex5RS44X[23] — Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) March 3, 2019[24]@SpeakerPelosi a picture is worth 1000 words. Pretending to condemn @IlhanMN’s anti-semitism while embracing her on this cover & claiming she embodies “millions of dreams to women & girls across America” is disgraceful and immoral. #NeverAgain. https://t.co/bvKkXgVF9z[25][26][27][28] — Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney)Yes, ...