Democratic New York Rep. Jamaal Bowman apparently asked a local Jewish community leader to send him pictures of them together in 2022 to “show the world I’m friends with Jewish People,” according to a Jewish Insider report.
Bowman apparently reached out to the leader, who the Jewish Insider spoke to on condition of anonymity, to help him fend off two primary challengers who were gaining support in his district’s Jewish community.
“Do you have pics of us?” Bowman texted him, according to a screenshot the leader provided to the Jewish Insider. “So I can show the world I’m friends with Jewish People?”
New: In late spring 2022, Rep. Jamaal Bowman reached out a local Jewish leader with an unusual request as he faced mounting scrutiny over his record on Israel.
“Do you have pics of us?” he texted. “So I can show the world I’m friends with Jewish People.” https://t.co/M1YVmrtF0s
— Matthew Kassel (@matthewkassel) June 18, 2024
The Jewish leader told the Jewish Insider he had one picture of the pair from an event where Bowman promised to support a bill strengthening the Abraham Accords, a landmark Trump-era set of legislation which sought to normalize relations between Israel and other Middle East nations.
Bowman, who initially signed the bill, reversed course and pulled his support for the bill, according to the Jewish Insider. (RELATED: Dem Jewish Group Sets Its Sights On Unseating Two Squad Members)
“I was uncomfortable,” the leader told the outlet. “I kind of joked around with him about it. I said ‘Oh I’m sure you guys have it. Don’t worry about it.'”
“I was like, ‘I don’t want to be his court Jew,'” he told the Jewish Insider.
Bowman won the 2022 primary despite an apparent lack of photo evidence of his Jewish friendships. But 2024 looks to be far more difficult for him, as he’s down double digit points to his opponent, Westchester County executive George Latimer, in recent polling.
His strong stances against Israel and calls for a ceasefire and for the U.S. to stop funding Israel’s military campaign in Gaza have opened him up to criticisms from fellow Dems, including former Democratic Rep. Mondaire Jones.
