Ilhan Omar faces censure over alleged antisemitic comments

Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) filed a resolution seeking to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), accusing the House Democrat of making antisemitic remarks after suggesting that some Jewish students at Columbia University were “pro-genocide.”

Bacon introduced the resolution on Tuesday, proposing to condemn Omar for comments she has made about Israel over the last several years. The resolution pointed to Omar’s most recent comments that triggered the resolution as she was visiting student encampments at Columbia University, at which her daughter is a student protester.

“The recent remarks by Rep. Omar about Jewish American students being pro-genocide shows her increasing disregard for the Jewish people and she is perpetuating and increasing antisemitism in our country,” Bacon said in a statement. “The House of Representatives needs to take a strong stand and condemn these divisive and racist remarks that she has made and those who continue to excuse her egregious behavior must stop.”

Omar has faced censure threats before, with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) filing a similar resolution over statements related to Somalia. However, that resolution never made it to the floor for a vote. The latest resolution comes in direct response to comments Omar made last month suggesting that some Jewish students involved in the college protests were “pro-genocide.”

“I think it is really unfortunate that people don’t care about the fact that all Jewish kids should be kept safe,” Omar said. “We should not have to tolerate antisemitism or bigotry for all Jewish students, whether they’re pro-genocide or anti-genocide.”

The censure effort also comes nearly six months after fellow “Squad” member Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) was censured over pro-Palestinian comments and use of the phrase “from the river to the sea,” referring to the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River that includes Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. That phrase has prompted widespread backlash from several lawmakers, who pointed to the slogan’s adoption by the Hamas terrorist group to advocate the destruction of Israel.

House Democratic leaders also responded to Omar’s comments but stopped short of saying whether they’d support a motion to rebuke her publicly.

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“It’s not the language I would have chosen; it’s not something I would have said,” Democratic Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar (D-CA) said last week. “We all have an obligation to turn the temperature down, especially when we’re in those positions where people are listening to us.”

It’s not clear when the resolution may reach the floor, as Bacon did not file the measure as privileged, meaning a vote will not be forced in the coming days. The Washington Examiner contacted Omar’s office for comment.