House Republicans reportedly voted to remove Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the Foreign Affairs Committee, citing her past controversial remarks about Israel.
The vote, which passed along party lines with a tally of 218-211, has been labeled as “purely partisan” by Omar, who has faced significant anti-Muslim bigotry during her time in office.
Critics, including both Republicans and Democrats, have pointed to Omar’s previous comments that invoked antisemitic tropes.
Although she apologized for those tweets, she has continued to address the influence of pro-Israel lobbying in U.S. politics.
The resolution to remove her, introduced by Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), argued that her biases disqualified her from serving on the committee, which is seen as a key voice on international matters.
In an emotional House floor speech, Omar expressed that her removal was targeted at her identity as a Muslim immigrant, suggesting that her unique perspective on foreign policy is being silenced.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries defended her, stating that the move was not about accountability but rather “political revenge.”
Some Republicans had previously expressed concerns about the process of removing members from committees, emphasizing the need for due process.
There were discussions about establishing a system to appeal such removals, which some members felt would preserve the integrity of the institution.
Omar’s history of controversial comments dates back to 2019, when she first faced backlash for tweets perceived as invoking antisemitic stereotypes.
Despite the ongoing criticism, she remains a prominent voice in Congress, particularly on issues related to foreign policy and civil rights.
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