Rep. Adam Kinzinger, Illinois Republican, called Thursday for Rep. Ilhan Omar to be removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, turning up the heat as House Democratic leaders struggle over how to handle the latest anti-Semitism uproar.
Mr. Kinzinger, who sits on the committee, joined the calls for her removal after the House Democratic leadership pulled plans to vote on an anti-Semitism resolution in the face of blowback from the party’s left wing.
“This is not your father’s Democratic Party. If it was ever more obvious than today, I don’t know when it was more obvious,” Mr. Kinzinger said on Fox News. “They can’t agree to condemn anti-Semitism.”
Ms. Omar was accused of anti-Semitism last week after blasting those who pledge “allegiance to a foreign country,” a reference to Israel, which has been criticized as an anti-Semitic stereotype about Jews holding dual loyalties.
“Look, Rep. Omar can say whatever she wants, it’s America, she’s elected, but the Democrats can take her off of the committee that has to deal with these issues,” Mr. Kinzinger said. “Because everything that we say on committee may not make front-news headlines in the United States, but it does in the country we’re talking about.”
Anti-Semitism has no place in this Congress or this country. Rep. Omar should be removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. We must hold ourselves to a higher standard in office. https://t.co/lWrHTIvs8i
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) March 6, 2019
House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Eliot Engel decried her comment as a “vile anti-Semitic slur,” but said Tuesday he would not press the House leadership to have her ejected from the committee, telling CNN, “I’m looking to get rid of anti-Semitism, not looking to punish anybody.”
A dozen pro-Israel Jewish groups and multiple Republican lawmakers have called for her to be taken off the committee.
In January, House Republicans removed Rep. Steve King, Iowa Republican, from committee assignments after his controversial comments on white supremacy and white nationalism.
“Think about the impact. What do the Democrats stand for?” Mr. Kinzinger asked. “We took a stand with some in our party and pulled them off a committee, pulled him off a committee. They need to do the same with anti-Semitism, for goodness’ sake.”
Ms. Omar has resisted calls from senior Democrats, including Mr. Engel and Rep. Nita Lowey, to retract her statement, arguing that she did not attack pro-Israel Americans but “questioned our politics.”
“I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee,” she tweeted Sunday. “The people of the 5th elected me to serve their interest. I am sure we agree on that!”
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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