Ilhan Omar vote - live: Squad member ousted from Foreign Affairs panel despite AOC defence in anti-semitism row
The House voted to remove Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Thursday, as the “Squad” member accused Republicans of putting “a target on my back”.
On Wednesday, the House took a procedural step to allow them to remove the Democrat from the committee, where she has held a seat since she was first sworn in as a member of Congress in 2019. Some have accused Ms Omar of making antisemitic comments in the past. The vote was official on Thursday afternoon.
Ms Omar’s allies rallied around her ahead of the vote. Reps Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib gave rousing speeches in support of their colleague, and excoriated Republicans for what they described as a blatant effort to marginalise one of just three Muslim members of Congress.
Key Points
Omar denies making antisemitic remarks, says GOP effort is fueled by bigotry
Why one congresswoman from Minnesota attracts so much GOP ire
White House condemns House GOP for ‘political stunt’ after Ilhan Omar removed from Foreign Affairs panel
05:00 , John Bowden
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday slammed House Republicans’ vote to remove Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee as a performative action taken against a respected member of Congress.
Republicans had sought to remove Ms Omar from the powerful House panel over past comments that they have interpreted as antisemitic. In 2019, she tweeted that Republicans wanted to condemn her comments about Israel because “It’s all about the Benjamins, baby”, a reference to Benjamin Franklin being on $100 bills.
Ms Omar later apologised for her remarks, but House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pressed for her removal nonetheless.
Read more:
White House condemns ‘political stunt’ after Omar removed from Foreign Affairs panel
AOC denounces GOP hypocrisy
04:00 , John Bowden
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was one of several Democrats to give speeches in support of Ilhan Omar on Thursday, and used her personal experiences with GOP members of Congress to her advantage.
The New York Democrat excoriated Speaker Kevin McCarthy for “rewarding” Paul Gosar with committee memberships after he was stripped of his own positions in the last Congress for posting a video that depicted violence against both her and Joe Biden.
“I had a member of the Republican caucus threaten my life and the Republican caucus rewarded him with one of the most prestigious committee assignments in this Congress,” she fumed.
"I had a member of the Republican caucus threaten my life and the Republican caucus rewarded him with one of the most prestigious committee assignments in this Congress."
Watch Rep. AOC respond to Republicans' removal of Rep. @Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/A22R7jQrlC— Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@RepAOC) February 2, 2023
Omar’s ouster concludes a four-year effort by Republicans
03:00 , John Bowden
Rep Ilhan Omar’s ouster from Foreign Affairs on Thursday was the conclusion of a four-year campaign by Republicans that gained steam after two of their own members were punished for unrelated issues.
The criticism for Ms Omar began in 2019, shortly after her swearing in. After then-Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy led the charge to remove then-Representative Steve King of Iowa from his committees for racist remarks, he said he wanted to take measures to sanction Ms Omar and Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan for their criticisms of Israel.
Read on:
Why does Ilhan Omar attract so much Republican ire?
Bernie Sanders rips House for ‘disgraceful’ ouster of Omar from Foreign Affairs
02:00 , John Bowden
Senator Bernie Sanders slammed the House’s GOP caucus in a tweet after the vote Thursday, having previously called for “fair minded” Republicans to come to Ilhan Omar’s defence against allegations of antisemitism for her criticism of Israel.
“It is an outrage that every Republican voted to remove @IlhanMN – a third term Muslim American woman – from the Foreign Affairs committee. Our job is to unite the American people, not divide them based on their race and religion. What a disgraceful day for the House,” he wrote.
It is an outrage that every Republican voted to remove @IlhanMN – a third term Muslim American woman – from the Foreign Affairs committee. Our job is to unite the American people, not divide them based on their race and religion. What a disgraceful day for the House.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) February 2, 2023
Omar’s fellow ‘Squad’ members are her most vocal defenders
01:00 , John Bowden
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar had many defenders in the Democratic caucus on Thursday, but none were more steadfast in their support than members of the so-called “Squad”.
While others like Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries pointed to “mistakes” and even gave some credence to allegations of antisemtism that Republicans hurled at Ms Omar’s feet, members like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib denied that their ally had meant any harm or offence with her words about Israel.
So desperate to distract the American people from their total inability to govern, the GOP is doing what it is best at—weaponizing hate against a Black, beautiful Muslim woman. @Ilhan, I am so sorry that our country is failing you today. pic.twitter.com/Fryz1V8y0B
— Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (@RepRashida) February 2, 2023
.@Ilhan has been steady in her purpose and clear in her conviction.
Her voice is powerful, and she is right where she belongs. pic.twitter.com/KtUfcIxFAy— Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) February 2, 2023
Cori Bush: Omar vote another racist attack
00:30 , John Bowden
Cori Bush, a congresswoman and Black Lives Matter activist from St Louis, strongly condemned the GOP’s efforts to punish Ilhan Omar on Thursday.
In her speech to the House floor, she noted the long history of ugly and racist attacks that Ms Omar has faced since being elected to Congress, attacks which targeted her on the basis of her skin color, religion, and ethnic background.
St. Louis & I rise in support of Rep. @Ilhan whose work on the Foreign Affairs Committee has made this institution a better place.
Rep. Omar has been repeatedly harassed by GOP Members for existing as a Muslim woman, & this resolution is yet another racist, xenophobic attack. pic.twitter.com/WMX8tE9PaA— Congresswoman Cori Bush (@RepCori) February 2, 2023
Swalwell resurfaces ‘Kanye. Elon. Trump.’ tweet
00:00 , John Bowden
Eric Swalwell had a simple message for Republicans as he defended Ilhan Omar’s position on the Foreign Affairs committee: If you want to see antisemites, look in the mirror.
The California Democrat had a blown-up verson of the House Judiciary Committee GOP’s now infamously-wrongheaded “Kanye. Elon. Trump.” tweet that Republicans were forced to take down after the rapper Ye, better known as Kanye West, praised Adolf Hitler on a podcast and made a long series of anti-Jewish remarks.
"Don't come here looking at us for anti-Semitism. Look in your own damn mirror!" -- Swalwell has a printout of the tweet. You know the one. pic.twitter.com/M9qiNesQlq
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 2, 2023
Don Jr trolls members of the ‘Squad’ after vote to remove Rep Omar from Foreign Affairs Committee
Thursday 2 February 2023 23:30 , John Bowden
Donald Trump Jr predictably trolled members of the “Squad” following the vote to remove Rep Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee. He posted an image of Rep Rashida Tlaib – who, alongside Ms Omar, was one of the first two Muslims elected to Congress – and referred to the as the “Hamas caucus”.
Party-line vote shows House’s polarization
Thursday 2 February 2023 23:00 , John Bowden
Rep Ilhan Omar’s removal from the Foreign Affairs committee on Thursday came as a result of a party-line vote, with no Democrats voting to oust her and no Republicans supporting her remaining on the panel.
One Republican, David Joyce, voted “present”.
It’s a sign of how polarized the lower House remains; even the removal of Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar from their respective committees under the previous Congress found some bipartisan support.
Even Republicans like Matt Gaetz and Nancy Mace, who raised questions about whether the effort was a partisan one, in the end relented and joined their party leaders to punish Ms Omar.
McCarthy defends vote at press gaggle
Thursday 2 February 2023 22:45 , John Bowden
Kevin McCarthy, newly-elected House speaker, defended the GOP’s party-line vote to remove Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee on Thursday.
Watch below:
Ilhan Omar's past statements make it clear she is unfit to represent the U.S. on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
- She repeatedly used anti-semitic tropes
- She described 9/11 by saying "some people did something"
- She compared America and Israel to Hamas and the Taliban pic.twitter.com/VnDIVtw5oV— Kevin McCarthy (@SpeakerMcCarthy) February 2, 2023
Watch: Full vote of Ilhan Omar’s removal from the House Foreign Affairs Committee
Thursday 2 February 2023 22:27 , John Bowden
The House voted 218-211 on Thursday to remove Rep Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs committee, over the objections of every single Democratic member.
Watch the vote unfold below:
Jewish Democrat rips GOP for Omar’s removal
Thursday 2 February 2023 22:00 , John Bowden
Rep Jan Schakowsky, who is Jewish, called herself a “proud friend” of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar on Thursday as the GOP resurfaced years-old allegations of antisemitic language which some Democrats agreed was inappropriate as well.
“As a proud Jew and proud friend of @Ilhan, I don't need any of my Republican colleagues to defend me against anti-Semitism. Ilhan Omar should not have been removed from the Foreign Affairs Committee,” wrote the Illinois congresswoman.
As a proud Jew and proud friend of @Ilhan, I don't need any of my Republican colleagues to defend me against anti-Semitism. Ilhan Omar should not have been removed from the Foreign Affairs Committee. pic.twitter.com/TOsjfZXLTH
— Jan Schakowsky (@janschakowsky) February 2, 2023
Omar releases another statement vowing to remain critical of US, Israeli policy
Thursday 2 February 2023 21:45 , John Bowden
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar released a second statement on Twitter Thursday afternoon following the vote to remove her from Foreign Affairs.
“My critique of our foreign policy, Israeli’s policy towards Palestinians or that of any foreign nation will not change,” she promised her colleagues.
“As a person who suffered the horrors of war and persecution, my advocacy will always be for those that suffer because of the actions of governments,” Ms Omar continued.
👋🏽 My critique of our foreign policy, Israeli’s policy towards Palestinians or that of any foreign nation will not change.
As a person who suffered the horrors of war and persecution, my advocacy will always be for those that suffer because of the actions of governments.— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 2, 2023
Republicans are already regretting their vote to oust Ilhan Omar
Thursday 2 February 2023 21:30 , John Bowden
Several Republicans have already expressed out loud their regrets over voting to remove Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, just hours after the vote occurred Thursday.
Roll Call reported that Ken Buck, a GOP member of the same committee from which Ms Omar was just booted, called Thurdsay’s effort the “stupidest vote in the world” in an elevator conversation with Rep Mike Simpson and potentially others afterwards.
Mr Simpson agreed, according to the news outlet, and fretted that the GOP had made the congresswoman a “martyr”.
George Santos gives floor speech in support of removing Omar
Thursday 2 February 2023 21:15 , John Bowden
The House’s most controversial new member, George Santos, took to the House floor to gloat about the removal of Rep Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee on Thursday.
Speaking after the vote took place, Mr Santos congratulated his GOP colleagues and said that the removal of Ms Omar “sends a strong message that we support Israel and the Jewish community”.
Mr Santos’s own history with the Jewish community is a matter of serious issue; the GOP’s largest Jewish organisation has condemned him and said that he is no longer welcome at their events after it was discovered that Mr Santos lied about his grandparents supposedly surviving the Holocaust.
Santos: I rise to congratulate my colleagues on voting to remove representative Omar from the foreign affairs committee. The passage of H.R. 76 sends a strong message that we support Israel and the Jewish community.. pic.twitter.com/vuqqcaYL64
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 2, 2023
Freshman Rep Summer Lee shows support for fellow ‘Squad’ member
Thursday 2 February 2023 20:59 , John Bowden
Congresswoman Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, one of Congress’s newest members, was one of many Democrats who made strong statements of support for her colleague, Rep Ilhan Omar, on Thursday.
As the House voted to remove Ms Omar from her assignment on the Foreign Affairs committee, Ms Lee tweeted: “Today, in the face undeniable hated, racism, Islamophobia & unparalleled hypocrisy, my colleague @IlhanMN stood strong &proud affirming her right to be here - a Black African, refugee, Muslim woman- in America, in Congress and most certainly on Foreign Affairs committee!”
“Nobody should have to endure the constant unfair targeting and disgusting attacks she does. She shouldn't have to be graceful in the face of hatred everyday. But here she is showing her haters everyday why she's the better Congreswoman and person,” Ms Lee wrote in a second tweet, adding: “Solidarity, sister.”
Supporters resurface Omar’s old questioning of witnesses on Foreign Affairs
Thursday 2 February 2023 20:45 , John Bowden
Supporters of Rep Ilhan Omar fumed at Republicans for her removal from the Foreign Affairs committee on Thursday.
Many took the time to resurface some of Ms Omar’s old work on the committee, including her questioning of the US Special Representative to Venezuela, Eliot Abrams, which drew praise at the time from progressives.
Utterly ridiculous that House Republicans voted to remove @IlhanMN from the Foreign Affairs committee.
Here's Rep. Omar grilling war criminal Elliot Abrams over his support for mass murder & genocide in 2019:pic.twitter.com/MIGAG4WI1m— jordan (@JordanUhl) February 2, 2023
CPC chair: Republicans have nothing to offer
Thursday 2 February 2023 20:18 , John Bowden
Rep Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said in her speech Thursday ahead of the vote on removing Ilhan Omar from her committee that Republicans were only offering the resolution to distract from their lack of an agenda.
“This revenge resolution is nothing more than a distraction from a Republican Party that has absolutely no real legislation to bring to the floor to help the American people,” she argued.
I stand with @Ilhan.
This revenge resolution is nothing more than a distraction from a Republican Party that has absolutely no real legislation to bring to the floor to help the American people. pic.twitter.com/WCVlqNpiyZ— Rep. Pramila Jayapal (@RepJayapal) February 2, 2023
Omar vows to keep fighting after vote
Thursday 2 February 2023 20:08 , John Bowden
In a tweet after Republicans successfully voted to remove her from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Ilhan Omar vowed to keep fighting for marginalised persons.
“I will continue to speak for the families who are seeking justice around the world— whether they are displaced in refugee camps or hiding under their bed somewhere like I was,” she wrote.
I will continue to speak for the families who are seeking justice around the world— whether they are displaced in refugee camps or hiding under their bed somewhere like I was.
I didn’t come to Congress to be silent. I came to Congress to be their voice. https://t.co/7H06waIwUW— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 2, 2023
White House: GOP does ‘disservice to the American people’ with Omar vote
Thursday 2 February 2023 19:55 , John Bowden
The White House was quick to condemn the vote by House Republicans to oust Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee on Thursday.
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the Minnesota Democrat a respected member of Congress while accusing Republicans of committing a “political stunt”.
Karine Jean-Pierre insists that blocking Eric Swalwell and Adam Schiff from the Intelligence Committee and Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee is a “disservice to the American people.” pic.twitter.com/uMP4cCYKYV
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) February 2, 2023
Bernie Sanders rips House for ‘disgraceful’ ouster of Omar from Foreign Affairs
Thursday 2 February 2023 19:41 , John Bowden
Senator Bernie Sanders slammed the House’s GOP caucus in a tweet after the vote Thursday, having previously called for “fair minded” Republicans to come to Ilhan Omar’s defence against allegations of antisemitism for her criticism of Israel.
“It is an outrage that every Republican voted to remove @IlhanMN – a third term Muslim American woman – from the Foreign Affairs committee. Our job is to unite the American people, not divide them based on their race and religion. What a disgraceful day for the House,” he wrote.
It is an outrage that every Republican voted to remove @IlhanMN – a third term Muslim American woman – from the Foreign Affairs committee. Our job is to unite the American people, not divide them based on their race and religion. What a disgraceful day for the House.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) February 2, 2023
AOC delivers scathing speech against GOP
Thursday 2 February 2023 19:30 , John Bowden
Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a barnburner on the House floor ahead of the vote to remove Rep Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee.
“One of the disgusting legacies after 9/11 has been the targeting and racism against Muslim Americans throughout the United States of America,” she said. “And this is an extension of that legacy. There is nothing consistent with the Republican Party’s continued attack except for the racism and incitement of violence against women of colour in this body.”
"This about targeting women of color!" -- AOC's impassioned defense of Ilhan Omar pic.twitter.com/8vqr5tNy6z
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 2, 2023
Don Jr trolls members of the ‘Squad’ after vote to remove Rep Omar from Foreign Affairs Committee
Thursday 2 February 2023 19:24 , David Taintor
Donald Trump Jr predictably trolled members of the “Squad” following the vote to remove Rep Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee. He posted an image of Rep Rashida Tlaib – who, alongside Ms Omar, was one of the first two Muslims elected to Congress – and referred to the as the “Hamas caucus”.
Swalwell resurfaces ‘Kanye. Elon. Trump.’ tweet
Thursday 2 February 2023 19:20 , John Bowden
Eric Swalwell had a simple message for Republicans as he defended Ilhan Omar’s position on the Foreign Affairs committee: If you want to see antisemites, look in the mirror.
The California Democrat had a blown-up verson of the House Judiciary Committee GOP’s now infamously-wrongheaded “Kanye. Elon. Trump.” tweet that Republicans were forced to take down after the rapper Ye, better known as Kanye West, praised Adolf Hitler on a podcast and made a long series of anti-Jewish remarks.
"Don't come here looking at us for anti-Semitism. Look in your own damn mirror!" -- Swalwell has a printout of the tweet. You know the one. pic.twitter.com/M9qiNesQlq
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 2, 2023
Thursday 2 February 2023 19:10 , John Bowden
Rep Rashida Tlaib, one of the House’s most progressive members, excoriated her Republican rivals in an emotional address on Thursday ahead of the vote to remove Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee.
“I am so sorry that our country is failing you today through this chamber,” she told her fellow “Squad” member through tears.
Tlaib gets emotional while defending Ilhan Omar and her mic is eventually cut off pic.twitter.com/U8aZJNYuql
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 2, 2023
Omar’s ouster concludes a four-year effort for Republicans
Thursday 2 February 2023 19:00 , John Bowden
Rep Ilhan Omar’s ouster from Foreign Affairs on Thursday was the conclusion of a four-year campaign by Republicans that gained steam after two of their own members were punished for unrelated issues.
The criticism for Ms Omar began in 2019, shortly after her swearing in. After then-Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy led the charge to remove then-Representative Steve King of Iowa from his committees for racist remarks, he said he wanted to take measures to sanction Ms Omar and Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan for their criticisms of Israel.
Read on:
Why does Ilhan Omar attract so much Republican ire?
White House condemns House GOP for ‘political stunt’ after Ilhan Omar removed from Foreign Affairs panel
Thursday 2 February 2023 18:57 , Andrew Feinberg
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Thursday slammed House Republicans’ vote to remove Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee as a performative action taken against a respected member of Congress.
Republicans had sought to remove Ms Omar from the powerful House panel over past comments that they have interpreted as antisemitic. In 2019, she tweeted that Republicans wanted to condemn her comments about Israel because “It’s all about the Benjamins, baby”, a reference to Benjamin Franklin being on $100 bills.
Ms Omar later apologised for her remarks, but House Speaker Kevin McCarthy pressed for her removal nonetheless.
Read more:
White House condemns ‘political stunt’ after Omar removed from Foreign Affairs panel
Why today’s vote could have lasting implications
Thursday 2 February 2023 18:50 , John Bowden
The vote to oust Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee is over, but Democrats are warning that the ripples from Thursday’s battle will echo for a long time.
Some Democrats expressed the idea openly of reappointing Ms Omar to the committee once the chamber returns to Democratic hands. And Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned his GOP counterparts that negotiations would likely be much more difficult between the two sides going forward.
“This kind of poisonous, toxic double standard, it’s going to complicate the relationship moving forward with House Democrats,” he said.
Hakeem Jeffries slams GOP effort to oust Ilhan Omar as ‘act of political revenge’
Thursday 2 February 2023 18:40 , John Bowden
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries strongly condemned Republicans for their effort to remove Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee at a press conference Thursday ahead of the full floor vote on her ouster.
Mr Jeffries directly accused Republican leaders, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, of “rewarding” their fellow Republicans whom he said were guilty of making antisemitic comments or using anti-Jewish tropes.
“I didn’t have enough time to come here and display for the American people every single thing that has been said by extreme Maga Republicans that has been objected to because I’d be here through the entire 118th Congress,” he remarked.
Read on:
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries slams GOP effort to oust Ilhan Omar as ‘
Ted Lieu: Omar will return to Foreign Affairs in 2 years
Thursday 2 February 2023 18:30 , John Bowden
House Democrat Ted Lieu vowed on Thursday that Democrats would return Ilhan Omar to the Foreign Affairs committee in 2025 if their pary retakes the lower chamber.
Every two years, the House’s entire body is up for reelection. That means Republicans could once again find themselves in the minority at the mercy of Hakeem Jeffries and his Democratic caucus.
“Reps Greene and Gosar were removed for threatening workplace violence. Rep Ilhan Omar did no such thing. She has does a great job representing her constituents, who re-elected her. We will put her back on Foreign Affairs Committee in two years when we flip the House. Guaranteed,” Mr Lieu wrote on Twitter.
Reps Greene and Gosar were removed for threatening workplace violence. Rep Ilhan Omar did no such thing. She has does a great job representing her constituents, who re-elected her. We will put her back on Foreign Affairs Committee in two years when we flip the House. Guaranteed. https://t.co/ANTuzTi05U
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) February 2, 2023
Democrats unload on Republicans over vote
Thursday 2 February 2023 18:20 , John Bowden
Democrats had no shortage of examples to present on Thursday when it came time to bring up remarks from members of the House Republican caucus that went unaddressed by party leaders.
Rep Dean Phillips gave his examples on a floor speech in support of Ilhan Omar, insisting: “She has never posted a video depicting herself decapitating and killing fellow members of Congress.
Others, like Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, pointed to even more recent comments from Republicans joking about the violent attack suffered by former Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband.
Watch Ilhan Omar’s speech in defence of her committee assignment
Thursday 2 February 2023 18:10 , John Bowden
Democrat Ilhan Omar delivered an impassioned defence of her love for America on Thursday as her fellow Democrats accused Republicans of targeting her due to her Muslim faith and refugee background.
Watch below:
Ilhan Omar closes the debate and says, "this debate today is about who gets to me an American ... I am Muslim. I am an immigrant ... is anyone surprised that I am being targeted? ... I am an American. pic.twitter.com/vKNzXXJSse
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 2, 2023
Party-line vote shows House’s polarization
Thursday 2 February 2023 18:00 , John Bowden
Rep Ilhan Omar’s removal from the Foreign Affairs committee on Thursday came as a result of a party-line vote, with no Democrats voting to oust her and no Republicans supporting her remaining on the panel.
One Republican, David Joyce, voted “present”.
It’s a sign of how polarized the lower House remains; even the removal of Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar from their respective committees under the previous Congress found some bipartisan support.
Even Republicans like Matt Gaetz and Nancy Mace, who raised questions about whether the effort was a partisan one, in the end relented and joined their party leaders to punish Ms Omar.
Omar is kicked off Foreign Affairs after vote passes
Thursday 2 February 2023 17:48 , John Bowden
In a vote just after noon on Thursday, the House voted to remove Rep Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee.
The final vote was 218 to 211, a narrow margin that underscored the fragile majority Republicans have in the lower chamber. No Democrats voted in favour of the resolution.
House votes to remove Ilhan Omar from committee despite heartfelt ‘American’ speech
Rashida Tlaib driven to tears in emotional defence of Omar
Thursday 2 February 2023 17:29 , John Bowden
Rep Rashida Tlaib, one of the House’s most progressive members, excoriated her Republican rivals in an emotional address on Thursday ahead of the vote to remove Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee.
“I am so sorry that our country is failing you today through this chamber,” she told her fellow “Squad” member through tears.
Tlaib gets emotional while defending Ilhan Omar and her mic is eventually cut off pic.twitter.com/U8aZJNYuql
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 2, 2023
Ilhan Omar defends herself ahead of House vote to boot her from committee
Thursday 2 February 2023 17:06 , David Taintor
Rep Ilhan Omar delivered a highly personal speech from the House floor ahead of the vote to oust her from the Foreign Affairs Committee.
“Is anyone surprised that I am being targeted? Is anyone surprised that I am somehow deemed unworthy to speak about American foreign policy?” she said.
Frankly, it is expected. When you push power, power pushes back. Representation matters. Continuing to expand our ideas of who is American and who can partake in the American experiment is a good thing.”
“I am an American. An American who was sent here by her constituents to represent them in Congress. A refugee who survived the horrors of a civil war. Someone who spent her childhood in a refugee camp.”
AOC delivers scathing speech against GOP
Thursday 2 February 2023 17:00 , David Taintor
Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez delivered a barnburner on the House floor ahead of the vote to remove Rep Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee.
“One of the disgusting legacies after 9/11 has been the targeting and racism against Muslim Americans throughout the United States of America,” she said. “And this is an extension of that legacy. There is nothing consistent with the Republican Party’s continued attack except for the racism and incitement of violence against women of colour in this body.”
Rep Pramila Jayapal calls GOP move ‘a revenge resolution'
Thursday 2 February 2023 16:56 , David Taintor
Rep Pramila Jayapal delivered another impassioned speech, calling the GOP’s move to oust Rep Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee a “revenge resolution”.
Ms Jayapal called Ms Omar’s voice “strong and necessary” on the committee and the GOP’s move “an attempt to silence her simply because you do not agree with her views”.
Democratic congressman points out offensive GOP moves in defence of Rep Omar
Thursday 2 February 2023 16:50 , David Taintor
Rep Dean Phillips of lashed out at some of his Republican colleagues in defence of Rep Ilhan Omar on Thursday.
Mr Phillips pointed out that some GOP members of Congress, including Paul Gosar and Marjorie Taylor Greene, have made outlandish and violent remarks in the past.
Rep. Dean Phillips on Ilhan Omar: "She has never posted a video depicting herself decapitating and killing fellow members of Congress. She doesn't question whether a plane really crashed into the Pentagon on 9/11. She does not wonder if school shootings are staged." pic.twitter.com/8pd3b1tEvV
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 2, 2023
Ilhan Omar shares ‘death threat’ as she accuses GOP of putting ‘target on my back’
Thursday 2 February 2023 16:30 , John Bowden
Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota shared a message of a man sending her a death threat and accused Republicans of making her a target of such threats.
The audio comes as House Republicans plan to vote to remove her from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Eric Garcia has the story:
Ilhan Omar shares ‘death threat’ as she accuses GOP of putting ‘target on my back’
Hakeem Jeffries slams GOP effort to oust Ilhan Omar as ‘act of political revenge’
Thursday 2 February 2023 16:10 , John Bowden
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries strongly condemned Republicans for their effort to remove Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee at a press conference Thursday ahead of the full floor vote on her ouster.
Mr Jeffries directly accused Republican leaders, including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, of “rewarding” their fellow Republicans whom he said were guilty of making antisemitic comments or using anti-Jewish tropes.
“What’s going to take place on the floor today is not a public policy debate. It’s not about accountability. It’s about political revenge.”
Jamaal Bowman: McCarthy’s animosity for Omar is based on race
Thursday 2 February 2023 15:50 , John Bowden
Rep Jamaal Bowman did not mince words when asked by The Independent this week about the effort to oust Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee.
“You know, Ilhan’s a threat to Kevin McCarthy not because she’s an antisemite. She’s not at all. It’s because he’s not a real man, a real leader. She is,” he said.
Read more:
Why does Ilhan Omar attract so much Republican ire?
Inside McCarthy's House: Famous friends and hard realities
Thursday 2 February 2023 15:20 , John Bowden
Three weeks into the new Republican majority, the risks of Kevin McCarthy’s leadership style are clearly taking hold: In the interest of opening up the legislative process, with more seats at the table for far-right lawmakers, the GOP agenda will be subjected to prolonged debates and delays — and the chance that nothing gets done at all.
The vote to oust Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee on Thursday will be another key test for the new Speaker, as he can only afford a few defections and is already seeing resistance to the idea from several Republicans.
Read more in The Independent:
Inside McCarthy's House: Famous friends and hard realities
Ilhan Omar shares ‘death threat’ as she accuses GOP of putting ‘target on my back’
Thursday 2 February 2023 14:57 , Eric Garcia
Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota shared a message of a man sending her a death threat and accused Republicans of making her a target of such threats.
The audio comes as House Republicans plan to vote to remove her from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Ms Omar tweeted the audio of a voice message sent to her office. “This is is one example of a death threat that came into my office this week,” she said.
Read more:
Ilhan Omar shares ‘death threat’ as she accuses GOP of putting ‘target on my back’
Omar explains how Trump ‘tarnished’ American dream
Thursday 2 February 2023 14:50 , John Bowden
In a 2020 sitdown with The Independent, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar described her experience coming to America as a refugee and experiencing the search for her family’s personal slice of the American dream firsthand.
And she said that she believed that optimism that immigrants once looked to America with had been tarnished by Donald Trump’s xenophobic rhetoric.
“America… for so many people living abroad, including myself when I lived in a refugee camp, is a place where people do get an opportunity to fulfil their promise. And the idea that the United States has been seen as a place of refuge, as a place where as my grandfather used to say ‘eventually everyone becomes an American’, is now being led by a xenophobic, racist tyrant, who doesn’t understand anything that is fundamental to the American identity – that’s a shock to many people,” she told Richard Hall.
Read on:
What happened on Wednesday?
Thursday 2 February 2023 14:20 , Rachel Sharp
The House of Representatives voted took a procedural step that would allow them to remove Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The House voted 218 to 209 on a rule that would allow for a vote to kick Ms Omar off the key committee. No Republicans voted against the measure.
Republicans have sought to remove Ms Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee over past comments that they have interpreted as antisemitic. In 2019, she tweeted that Republicans wanted to condemn her comments about Israel because “It’s all about the Benjamins, baby,” a reference to Benjamin Franklin being on $100 bills.
The Independent’s Eric Garcia has the details:
Ilhan Omar shares audio of ‘threat’ as she accuses GOP of putting ‘target on my back'
Thursday 2 February 2023 13:50 , Rachel Sharp
On Thursday, Ilhan Omar shared a “death threat” on social media which she said had been sent to her office.
“TW: death threat, profanity. This is is one example of a death threat that came into my office this week,” she wrote.
“These threats increase whenever Republicans put a target on my back. They can continue to target me, but they will never stop me from fighting for a more just world.”
Full House to vote on Omar’s removal from Foreign Affairs today
Thursday 2 February 2023 13:20 , John Bowden
The full House is set to vote on whether to remove Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee today after Democrats officially name her to the panel.
Republicans can only afford a single-digit number of defections on the vote, and several members have already come out opposed to the move.
But Speaker Kevin McCarthy has projected optimism and promised that the vote will pass.
Yesterday, the House voted 218 to 209 on a rule that would allow for a vote to kick Ms Omar off the committee.
Omar speaks on her identity being ‘weaponised’ by Donald Trump
Thursday 2 February 2023 12:50 , John Bowden
In a 2020 sitdown with The Independent’s Richard Hall, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar discussed the unique experience of seeing her culture and ethnic background attacked on the national stage by Donald Trump.
“I happen to embody multiple marginal identities. I’m a woman, I’m black, I’m a refugee, an immigrant, a Muslim and I wear a hijab. And all of those are identities that have been vilified by the right... and weaponised by Donald Trump,” she said at the time.
“For me, that understanding allows me to be resolved in the ways in which I unapologetically show up, advocate for policies that make our country a more equitable society.”
Look back at the perspective shared by Ms Omar:
Omar denounces ‘pathetic’ McCarthy ahead of vote
Thursday 2 February 2023 12:20 , John Bowden
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar scorched Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Twitter ahead of Wednesay’s vote on a rule that would allow her to be removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
In a tweet Tuesday evening, she wrote: “The fact that this has become a sole focus for @SpeakerMcCarthy that he is personally whipping votes for it is really pathetic. Not the debt ceiling or all the actual priorities a Speaker should be fighting to deal with and whip votes for,” before adding a shrugging emoji.
The fact that this has become a sole focus for @SpeakerMcCarthy that he is personally whipping votes for it is really pathetic.
Not the debt ceiling or all the actual priorities a Speaker should be fighting to deal with and whip votes for 🤷🏽♀️ https://t.co/k7L4i5ENTl— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 31, 2023
Republican congressmen: Foreign Affairs committee must be pro-Israel
Thursday 2 February 2023 11:50 , John Bowden
Several Republicans are making clear that they do not believe any members of Congress who criticise the Israeli government should sit on the Foreign Affairs committee.
Rep Michael McCaul told The Independent this week: “The Foreign Affairs Committees is very, its bipartisan pro-Israel”.
And Rep Max Miller tweeted on Sunday that his colleague “does not support our alliance” with Israel, which he called an ally for 75 years.
He added: “[S]he should not have a seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.”
Omar says GOP effort is fueled by racism and Islamophobia
Thursday 2 February 2023 11:20 , John Bowden
Ilhan Omar claims a Republican-led push to boot her from the House Foreign Affairs Committee is rooted in racism and Islamophobia and meant to appease bigots in the House GOP conference.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other Republicans have argued that Ms Omar should be removed because her criticism of the Israeli government amounts to antisemitism.
They pointed to a comment she made about Israel having “hypnotized” the world and a past accusation she made regarding pro-Israel lawmakers’ alleged financial motivations as evidence that she is unfit to serve on the committee.
But Ms Omar, who came to the US as a child refugee from Somalia and is one of just two Muslim women in Congress, said on Sunday that the House speaker’s actions are motivated by revenge and bigotry, during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union programme.
“It is politically motivated,” Ms Omar said. “In some cases, it’s motivated by the fact that many of these members don’t believe a Muslim, a refugee, an African should even be in Congress, let alone have the opportunity to serve on the Foreign Affairs Committee.”
Read more from The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg:
Ilhan Omar says GOP wants her off Foreign Affairs panel because she’s Black, Muslim
Old comments resurface of Marjorie Taylor Greene admitting animosity for Omar is about Muslim faith
Thursday 2 February 2023 10:20 , John Bowden
As Republicans prepare to vote Tuesday to strip Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of her seat on the Foreign Affairs committee, an old clip of Marjorie Taylor Greene has resurfaced.
In the late 2021 interview, Ms Greene admits clearly that her animosity towards the Minnesota Democrat stems from her belief that Ms Omar represents “radical Islam”.
The belief behind the blatantly Islamophobic statement is one Ms Omar has accused many Republicans of harboring, and which she said in a CNN interview this week is behind the effort to oust her from Foreign Affairs.
Watch the moment below:
In December 2021, Marjorie Taylor Greene said Ilhan Omar represents “radical Islam in the United States Congress” and should be removed from committees.
MTG wants to remove Ilhan Omar because of her Muslim faith. pic.twitter.com/jsa0g1ZUPk— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) February 1, 2023
Why some Republicans are resistant to McCarthy’s bid to punish Ilhan Omar
Thursday 2 February 2023 08:50 , John Bowden
Some members of Kevin McCarthy’s caucus may not be on board with the effort to remove Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Even some of those who agree that her words brought up antisemitic tropes — a notion with which she and others disagree — worry that the House may be on a path to making committee assignments a political battleground
“She has made antisemitic comments. I think those that’s undisputable,” Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska told The Independent, adding that Congress previously didn’t remove members of Congress from committees until Ms Pelosi did so in the 117th Congress.
“But at some point, we got to say, let’s stop it and let’s shake hands and go back to when we’ve always done it,” he said.
Read on:
Why does Ilhan Omar attract so much Republican ire?
Sanders: ‘Fair-minded’ Republicans must vote to save Omar
Thursday 2 February 2023 07:20 , John Bowden
Bernie Sanders slammed the House GOP in a statement this week ahead of the effort by Republicans to punish Ilhan Omar and remove her from the Foreign Affairs panel.
The progressive senator, a political ally of Ms Omar, called the move “ugly” and “outrageous”.
“.@IlhanMN is once again facing ugly personal and political attacks with incredible courage and dignity. It is outrageous that the House leadership wants to boot her off the Foreign Affairs Committee. Fair minded Republicans must join Democrats in preventing that from happening,” wrote the senator.
.@IlhanMN is once again facing ugly personal and political attacks with incredible courage and dignity. It is outrageous that the House leadership wants to boot her off the Foreign Affairs Committee. Fair minded Republicans must join Democrats in preventing that from happening.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 30, 2023
McCarthy appears to pick up another vote to oust Ilhan Omar from committee
Thursday 2 February 2023 05:50 , John Bowden
Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina said on Wednesday that she was still opposed to an effort to remove Rep Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
With her opposed to the idea, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy can only afford a few other defections from his side — more than that, and the vote will not pass.
MACE tells me her Omar vote position has not changed — despite Buck and Spartz both changing their stance after discussions with McCarthy
She remarked: “It is about having due process before… but he’s not gonna use it for Omar? — Just in the future.”— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) February 1, 2023
What did Rep Ilhan Omar say that made Republicans want to remove her from a committee?
Thursday 2 February 2023 04:50 , John Bowden
House Republicans hope to remove Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from the House Foreign Affairs Committee as early as Wednesday. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and many other Republicans, and even some Democrats, have said that her criticisms of Israel amount to antisemitism.
But what exactly did she say to warrant the anger of her Republican rivals?
Eric Garcia looks into it:
What did Ilhan Omar say that made Republicans want to remove her from a committee?
Jamaal Bowman: McCarthy’s animosity for Omar is based on race
Thursday 2 February 2023 03:50 , John Bowden
Rep Jamaal Bowman did not mince words when asked by The Independent this week about the effort to oust Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee.
“You know, Ilhan’s a threat to Kevin McCarthy not because she's an antisemite. She's not at all. It’s because he's not a real man, a real leader. She is,” he said.
Read more:
Why does Ilhan Omar attract so much Republican ire?
Inside McCarthy's House: Famous friends and hard realities
Thursday 2 February 2023 02:50 , John Bowden
Three weeks into the new Republican majority, the risks of Kevin McCarthy’s leadership style are clearly taking hold: In the interest of opening up the legislative process, with more seats at the table for far-right lawmakers, the GOP agenda will be subjected to prolonged debates and delays — and the chance that nothing gets done at all.
The vote to oust Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs committee on Thursday will be another key test for the new Speaker, as he can only afford a few defections and is already seeing resistance to the idea from several Republicans.
Read more in The Independent:
Inside McCarthy's House: Famous friends and hard realities
House to take vote on Omar removal Thursday
Thursday 2 February 2023 01:50 , John Bowden
The House on Wednesday narrowly passed a rule authorising the removal of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday. The only problem — Democrats haven’t officially named her to the committee yet.
As a result, the House GOP caucus is waiting until Thursday, when Ms Omar is officially seated, to attempt to officially remove her.
It’s still not totally clear if Mr McCarthy has the votes to strip Mr Omar of her committee membership, given the slim Republican majority in the lower chamber. However, at least one lawmaker who was on the fence about the vote has now indicated that she will side with GOP leadership.
Omar explains how Trump ‘tarnished’ American dream
Thursday 2 February 2023 00:50 , John Bowden
In a 2020 sitdown with The Independent, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar described her experience coming to America as a refugee and experiencing the search for her family’s personal slice of the American dream firsthand.
And she said that she believed that optimism that immigrants once looked to America with had been tarnished by Donald Trump’s xenophobic rhetoric.
“America… for so many people living abroad, including myself when I lived in a refugee camp, is a place where people do get an opportunity to fulfil their promise. And the idea that the United States has been seen as a place of refuge, as a place where as my grandfather used to say ‘eventually everyone becomes an American’, is now being led by a xenophobic, racist tyrant, who doesn’t understand anything that is fundamental to the American identity – that’s a shock to many people,” she told Richard Hall.
Read on:
Omar denounces ‘pathetic’ McCarthy ahead of vote
Wednesday 1 February 2023 23:50 , John Bowden
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar scorched Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Twitter ahead of Wednesay’s vote on a rule that would allow her to be removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
In a tweet Tuesday evening, she wrote: “The fact that this has become a sole focus for @SpeakerMcCarthy that he is personally whipping votes for it is really pathetic. Not the debt ceiling or all the actual priorities a Speaker should be fighting to deal with and whip votes for,” before adding a shrugging emoji.
The fact that this has become a sole focus for @SpeakerMcCarthy that he is personally whipping votes for it is really pathetic.
Not the debt ceiling or all the actual priorities a Speaker should be fighting to deal with and whip votes for 🤷🏽♀️ https://t.co/k7L4i5ENTl— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 31, 2023
Marianne Williamson: McCarthy committing an ‘abuse of power'
Wednesday 1 February 2023 22:50 , John Bowden
Democrats in Congress weren’t the only ones raging at Kevin McCarthy on Wednesday as the GOP majority looks poised to boot Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Others like author Marianne Williamson decried the move by Republicans on Twitter; the issue trended throughout much of Wednesday as Mr McCarthy experience what may have been more resistance to the idea than he expected.
McCarthy’s efforts to sideline @IlhanMN are an abuse of power. https://t.co/In9p0Qdl8h
— Marianne Williamson (@marwilliamson) February 1, 2023
Another Republican says Omar’s fate comes down to ‘support’ for Israel
Wednesday 1 February 2023 22:30 , John Bowden
A second Republican congressman has just revealed a bit more of what is motivating the push to remove Ilhan Omar from Foreign Affairs.
Rep Max Miller wrote that his colleague “does not support our alliance” with Israel, which he called an ally for 75 years.
He added: “[S]he should not have a seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.”
She claims she wasn’t aware that she was stereotyping Jewish people. Yet she has repeatedly hurled anti-Semitic & anti-Israel rhetoric. Israel has been our ally for 75 years. She does not support our alliance, & she should not have a seat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. https://t.co/2cYvBxjjxz
— Congressman Max Miller (@RepMaxMiller) January 29, 2023
Some, like MSNBC’s Medhi Hasan responded: “What’s good about tweets like these is that they say the quiet part out loud. This isn’t about Jews or Judaism but about conflating antisemitism with criticism of Israel & making clear that Omar’s criticism of the US-Israel alliance is what makes her unacceptable to the GOP.”
What did Rep Ilhan Omar say that made Republicans want to remove her from a committee?
Wednesday 1 February 2023 22:10 , John Bowden
House Republicans hope to remove Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from the House Foreign Affairs Committee as early as Wednesday. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and many other Republicans, and even some Democrats, have said that her criticisms of Israel amount to antisemitism.
But what exactly did she say to warrant the anger of her Republican rivals?
Eric Garcia looks into it:
What did Ilhan Omar say that made Republicans want to remove her from a committee?
GOP takes first step towards removing Ilhan Omar from Foreign Affairs Committee
Wednesday 1 February 2023 21:50 , John Bowden
The House of Representatives voted took a procedural step that would allow them to remove Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The House voted 218 to 209 on a rule that would allow for a vote to kick Ms Omar off the key committee. A final vote is expected tomorrow.
Read more:
GOP takes first step towards removing Ilhan Omar from Foreign Affairs Committee
Warren: We need Omar’s unique voice on Foreign Affairs
Wednesday 1 February 2023 21:30 , John Bowden
Senator Elizabeth Warren has weighed into the debate over Ilhan Omar’s post on House Foreign Affairs.
Joining her colleague Bernie Sanders in support for Ms Omar, she wrote: “.@IlhanMN is the first African-born congressmember and the only House Foreign Affairs Committee member who’s lived in a refugee camp. It’s shameful that Republicans are trying to remove her after smearing her for years.”
“We need her voice, values, and expertise on the Committee,” Ms Warren added.
.@IlhanMN is the first African-born congressmember and the only House Foreign Affairs Committee member who's lived in a refugee camp. It's shameful that Republicans are trying to remove her after smearing her for years. We need her voice, values, and expertise on the Committee. https://t.co/e1M5ajM0T4
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) January 30, 2023
Sanders: ‘Fair-minded’ Republicans must vote to save Omar
Wednesday 1 February 2023 21:09 , John Bowden
Bernie Sanders slammed the House GOP in a statement this week ahead of the effort by Republicans to punish Ilhan Omar and remove her from the Foreign Affairs panel.
The progressive senator, a political ally of Ms Omar, called the move “ugly” and “outrageous”.
“.@IlhanMN is once again facing ugly personal and political attacks with incredible courage and dignity. It is outrageous that the House leadership wants to boot her off the Foreign Affairs Committee. Fair minded Republicans must join Democrats in preventing that from happening,” wrote the senator.
.@IlhanMN is once again facing ugly personal and political attacks with incredible courage and dignity. It is outrageous that the House leadership wants to boot her off the Foreign Affairs Committee. Fair minded Republicans must join Democrats in preventing that from happening.
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) January 30, 2023
Nancy Mace still opposes effort to remove Ilhan Omar
Wednesday 1 February 2023 20:10 , John Bowden
Congresswoman Nancy Mace of South Carolina said on Wednesday that she was still opposed to an effort to remove Rep Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
With her opposed to the idea, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy can only afford a few other defections from his side — more than that, and the vote will not pass.
MACE tells me her Omar vote position has not changed — despite Buck and Spartz both changing their stance after discussions with McCarthy
She remarked: “It is about having due process before… but he’s not gonna use it for Omar? — Just in the future.”— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) February 1, 2023
McCarthy appears to pick up another vote to oust Ilhan Omar from committee
Wednesday 1 February 2023 19:50 , John Bowden
Rep Ken Buck appears to have flipped his position and plans to vote to remove Rep Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee, according to Politico. The full House vote on Rep Omar is not expected to be held until Thursday.
NEWS: Rep. BUCK says he is changing his position opposing vote on Rep. Omar after discussing with McCarthy the ethics process that he argues it should go through
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) February 1, 2023
Buck says he changed after McCarthy made a commitment “that he will work with me on clarifying what the standard here is and making it more transparent and consistent.”
— Olivia Beavers (@Olivia_Beavers) February 1, 2023
Omar denounces ‘pathetic’ McCarthy ahead of vote
Wednesday 1 February 2023 19:25 , John Bowden
Congresswoman Ilhan Omar scorched Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Twitter ahead of Wednesay’s vote on a rule that would allow her to be removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
In a tweet Tuesday evening, she wrote: “The fact that this has become a sole focus for @SpeakerMcCarthy that he is personally whipping votes for it is really pathetic. Not the debt ceiling or all the actual priorities a Speaker should be fighting to deal with and whip votes for,” before adding a shrugging emoji.
The fact that this has become a sole focus for @SpeakerMcCarthy that he is personally whipping votes for it is really pathetic.
Not the debt ceiling or all the actual priorities a Speaker should be fighting to deal with and whip votes for 🤷🏽♀️ https://t.co/k7L4i5ENTl— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 31, 2023
House to take rules vote Wednesday, full vote Thursday
Wednesday 1 February 2023 18:25 , John Bowden
The House is set to take a vote on a rule authorising the removal of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday. The only problem — Democrats haven’t officially named her to the committee yet.
As a result, the House GOP caucus is waiting until Thursday, when Ms Omar is officially seated, to attempt to officially remove her.
It’s still not totally clear if Mr McCarthy has the votes to strip Mr Omar of her committee membership, given the slim Republican majority in the lower chamber. However, at least one lawmaker who was on the fence about the vote has now indicated that she will side with GOP leadership.
Omar speaks on her identity being ‘weaponised’ by Donald Trump
Wednesday 1 February 2023 17:55 , John Bowden
In a 2020 sitdown with The Independent’s Richard Hall, Congresswoman Ilhan Omar discussed the unique experience of seeing her culture and ethnic background attacked on the national stage by Donald Trump.
“I happen to embody multiple marginal identities. I’m a woman, I’m black, I’m a refugee, an immigrant, a Muslim and I wear a hijab. And all of those are identities that have been vilified by the right... and weaponised by Donald Trump,” she said at the time.
“For me, that understanding allows me to be resolved in the ways in which I unapologetically show up, advocate for policies that make our country a more equitable society.”
Look back at the perspective shared by Ms Omar:
What did Rep Ilhan Omar say that made Republicans want to remove her from a committee?
Wednesday 1 February 2023 17:25 , John Bowden
House Republicans hope to remove Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from the House Foreign Affairs Committee as early as Wednesday. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and many other Republicans, and even some Democrats, have said that her criticisms of Israel amount to antisemitism.
But what exactly did she say to warrant the anger of her Republican rivals?
Eric Garcia looks into it:
What did Ilhan Omar say that made Republicans want to remove her from a committee?
Why some Republicans are resistant to McCarthy’s bid to punish Ilhan Omar
Wednesday 1 February 2023 16:55 , John Bowden
Some members of Kevin McCarthy’s caucus may not be on board with the effort to remove Ilhan Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
Even some of those who agree that her words brought up antisemitic tropes — a notion with which she and others disagree — worry that the House may be on a path to making committee assignments a political battleground
“She has made antisemitic comments. I think those that's undisputable,” Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska told The Independent, adding that Congress previously didn’t remove members of Congress from committees until Ms Pelosi did so in the 117th Congress.
“But at some point, we got to say, let's stop it and let's shake hands and go back to when we've always done it,” he said.
Read on:
Why does Ilhan Omar attract so much Republican ire?
Why does Ilhan Omar attract so much Republican ire?
Wednesday 1 February 2023 15:45 , John Bowden
House Republicans are pushing forward to keep their promise to remove Representative Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee, but they might struggle to garner the votes necessary to remove her.
On Tuesday evening, the House Rules Committee convened to discuss the resolution to remove the Minnesota Democrat from the House Rules Foreign Affairs Committee. Republicans have accused Ms Omar of antisemitism for some of her criticism of Israel, which they say disqualifies her from serving on the committee.
Eric Garcia dives in to why one member of Congress from Minnesota has enraged the right so much:
Why does Ilhan Omar attract so much Republican ire?
Warren hosts progressive House members for dinner
Wednesday 1 February 2023 15:17 , John Bowden
Elizabeth Warren hosted members of the House’s left wing for dinner on Monday as the progressive left sees some of its greatest strength in the lower chamber in recent memory.
Among the guests were Reps Greg Casar, Summer Lee, Cori Bush, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, and Ilhan Omar, who is facing an effort by the Republican House caucus to remove her from the Foreign Affairs committee today.
Thank you for the wonderful dinner @ewarren. It was great to be in community with you all tonight. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/MYcnui3N8Q
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 1, 2023
Old comments resurface of Marjorie Taylor Greene admitting animosity for Omar is about Muslim faith
Wednesday 1 February 2023 14:20 , John Bowden
As Republicans prepare to vote Tuesday to strip Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of her seat on the Foreign Affairs committee, an old clip of Marjorie Taylor Greene has resurfaced.
In the late 2021 interview, Ms Greene admits clearly that her animosity towards the Minnesota Democrat stems from her belief that Ms Omar represents “radical Islam”.
The belief behind the blatantly Islamophobic statement is one Ms Omar has accused many Republicans of harboring, and which she said in a CNN interview this week is behind the effort to oust her from Foreign Affairs.
Watch the moment below:
In December 2021, Marjorie Taylor Greene said Ilhan Omar represents “radical Islam in the United States Congress” and should be removed from committees.
MTG wants to remove Ilhan Omar because of her Muslim faith. pic.twitter.com/jsa0g1ZUPk— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) February 1, 2023
Omar says GOP effort is fueled by racism and Islamophobia
Wednesday 1 February 2023 13:40 , Megan Sheets
Ilhan Omar claims a Republican-led push to boot her from the House Foreign Affairs Committee is rooted in racism and Islamophobia and meant to appease bigots in the House GOP conference.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other Republicans have argued that Ms Omar should be removed because her criticism of the Israeli government amounts to antisemitism.
They pointed to a comment she made about Israel having “hypnotized” the world and a past accusation she made regarding pro-Israel lawmakers’ alleged financial motivations as evidence that she is unfit to serve on the committee.
But Ms Omar, who came to the US as a child refugee from Somalia and is one of just two Muslim women in Congress, said on Sunday that the House speaker’s actions are motivated by revenge and bigotry, during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union programme.
“It is politically motivated,” Ms Omar said. “In some cases, it’s motivated by the fact that many of these members don’t believe a Muslim, a refugee, an African should even be in Congress, let alone have the opportunity to serve on the Foreign Affairs Committee.”
Read more from The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg:
Ilhan Omar says GOP wants her off Foreign Affairs panel because she’s Black, Muslim
GOP gears up to vote Ilhan Omar off House Foreign Affairs Committee
Wednesday 1 February 2023 13:19 , Megan Sheets
Newly empowered House Republicans are gearing up to vote on a resolution to remove Democratic Rep Ilhan Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee.
The push has been led by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, citing Ms Omar’s critical comments about Israel.
The vote could come as early as Wednesday.
Read more from the Associated Press:
Republicans set to oust Rep. Omar from Foreign Affairs panel
