House Republican Unveils Censure Resolution Against Ilhan Omar After Remark About Some Jewish Students Being ‘Pro-Genocide’

 On Tuesday, a House Republican unveiled a censure resolution against Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) after the member of the leftist “Squad” suggested that some Jewish students are “pro-genocide.”

The measure, introduced by Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE), seeks to formally rebuke Omar for her “recent hateful comments and history of anti-Semitism.”

A leading provision cites what Omar said about anti-Semitism while visiting Columbia University last month amid anti-Israel protests in response to the Israel-Hamas war. In speaking with a Fox 5 New York reporter, Omar noted she had just met some Jewish students in an encampment.

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

Bacon’s resolution says Omar “has a long and demonstrated history of hateful rhetoric that plays into the worst anti-Semitic tropes. Her “slanderous comments against Jewish students could inflame violence against the Jewish community,” the measure adds.

Other provisions in the resolution note different statistics, including a finding from the Anti-Defamation League that anti-Semitic incidents across the United States spiked last year, as well as past comments from Omar about Israel that led to her getting kicked off the Foreign Affairs Committee.

 

“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 on Tuesday.

“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,” he added.

Throughout history, 27 members have been successfully censured, which is a formal rebuke and a less severe form of punishment than expulsion, though there has been an uptick of late. Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), and Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) are among them.

A spokesperson for Omar told Axios last week the congresswoman “clearly condemned antisemitism and bigotry for all Jewish students,” adding, “Attempts to misconstrue her words by drafting this baseless resolution are meant to distract” from the Gaza conflict and anti-war protests.