On Jan. 2, the House of Representatives voted 218-211 to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar from the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The Republican Party had previously stated that Omar’s alleged anti-Semitic and anti-American comments disqualified her from serving on the panel, which is seen as the voice of Congress on foreign affairs and national security.
In response to her removal, Omar accused the GOP of racism and hypocrisy, noting that she was being targeted for her identity as a Muslim and an immigrant from Africa. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez added that Omar was being targeted due to her race and gender, and Rep. Gregory Meeks questioned if her Muslim faith and appearance were also factors. Meeks also argued that if Omar was on the opposite side of the aisle, the debate would not be happening.
On Jan. 2, the House of Representatives voted 218-211 to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from the Committee on Foreign Affairs. This followed Republican outcry over Omar’s alleged antisemitic and anti-American comments. The removal was made official in a four-page resolution.
Omar responded to the removal, claiming that she is being targeted because of her faith and ethnicity. “I am Muslim, I am an immigrant, and interestingly, from Africa. Is anyone surprised that I am being targeted?,” Omar said in a statement.
Omar and her Democratic colleagues, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) accused the GOP of racism and hypocrisy. Ocasio-Cortez dismissed Republican claims of consistency, saying “there is nothing consistent with the Republican Party’s continued attack, except for the racism and incitement of violence against women of color in this body.” Meeks argued that Omar is being targeted because of her appearance and religious practices, saying “could it be the way that she looks? Could it be her religious practices?”
The Committee on Foreign Affairs is viewed by nations around the world as speaking for Congress on matters of international importance and national security.