TThe House is scheduled to vote Wednesday on a resolution to remove progressive Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from her position on the House Foreign Affairs Committee after days of uncertainty over whether the measure had enough GOP support to pass – if
The resolution, introduced by freshman Rep. Max Miller (R-OH), takes aim at Omar’s 2019 comments that were criticized by members on both sides of the aisle as echoing anti-Semitic tropes.
“Representative Ilan Omar suggested that the Jewish people and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) were buying political support, saying, ‘It’s all about the Benjamins, baby,’ prompting the condemnation of Republicans and Democrats alike,” the resolution says, alleging. who “redoubled his stance at a forum in Washington DC saying, ‘I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it’s okay for people to push loyalty to a foreign country.'”
Democrats have criticized Republicans’ vote to remove her from the panel, calling it an act of “political revenge” in response to Democrats and a handful of Republican lawmakers who voted to remove conservative Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R- GA) and Paul Gosar (R-AZ) from their committees after a series of controversies during the last Congress.
The move comes after Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) removed Reps. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Eric Swalwell (D-CA) from the House Intelligence Committee: Schiff to push the narrative of collusion between Trump and Russia and Swalwell over his relationship with an alleged Chinese spy.
The decision comes hours after Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), one of three Republican lawmakers who publicly opposed Omar’s resolution, spoke out in support. The move is expected to include an appeals process as a concession to Spartz.
GOP Rep. George Santos (N.Y.) announced Tuesday morning that he would be temporarily stepping down from his committee duties, with Omar playing a role in his decision, as Democrats pointed out that the New York Republican remained on committees as a sign that the Republicans had political motivations. .