Vice President Mike Pence issued a statement condemning Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar for accusing a pro-Israel lobbying group of buying support for Israel, but stopped short of calling for her resignation Tuesday night.
Omar accused American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) of buying congressional support for Israel on Sunday night.
.@IlhanMN tweets were a disgrace & her apology was inadequate. Anti-Semitism has no place in the United States Congress, much less the Foreign Affairs Committee. Those who engage in anti-Semitic tropes should not just be denounced, they should face consequences for their words.
— Vice President Mike Pence (@VP) February 13, 2019
In response, Pence tweeted, “.@IlhanMN tweets were a disgrace & her apology was inadequate. Anti-Semitism has no place in the United States Congress, much less the Foreign Affairs Committee. Those who engage in anti-Semitic tropes should not just be denounced, they should face consequences for their words.”
His condemnation of her comments come after a number of other leaders across the political aisle did the same. (RELATED: Omar Releases Statement After Backlash Surrounding Tweet Accusing AIPAC Of Buying Israel Support)
“I think she should either resign from Congress or she should certainly resign from the House Foreign Affairs Committee,” Trump told reporters in the Cabinet Room, earlier on Tuesday.
Multiple Republicans have called for her committee spot be revoked, but Democratic leadership has said nothing to indicate that will happen.
House Speaker Pelosi released a statement that said in part, “Congresswoman Omar’s use of anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israel’s supporters is deeply offensive.”
It’s all about the Benjamins baby https://t.co/KatcXJnZLV
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 10, 2019
Following Pelosi’s rebuke, the Minnesota congresswoman issued an apology.
“Anti-Semitism is real, and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes. My intention is never to offend my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole,” her statement read. “At the same time, I reaffirm the problematic role of lobbyists in our politics, whether it be AIPAC, the NRA or the fossil fuel industry. It’s gone on too long and we must be willing to address it.”
Omar has made numerous statements critical of Israel, including some that have been labeled as anti-Semitic. She supports the Boycott, Divest, and Sanction (BDS) movement, previously implied that Israel is not a democracy and, back in 2012, accused Israel of “[hypnotizing] the world,” although she has since apologized for it.