GOP lawmakers are seeking to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) from committees as Democrat press to drop Taylor Greene from the panel.
House GOP lawmakers are seeking this week to oust Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from her committee assignments as Democrats push for similar action against embattled Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Fox News reports.
The House will consider a measure this week calling for Taylor Greene, a controversial first-term lawmaker known for her support of the QAnon conspiracy theory, from her assignment on the Education and Labor Committee.
A proposed GOP-backed amendment to that measure calls for Omar, frequently identified as a member of the “Squad” of progressive Democrats, to be removed from her committee assignments “in light of conduct she has exhibited,” Fox News congressional correspondent Chad Pergram reported. In the amendment, Republicans argue that Omar has made anti-Semitic comments that are grounds for dismissal.
Reps. Brian Babin (R-TX), Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Jody Hice (R-GA), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), and Ronny Jackson (R-TX) sponsored the proposed amendment.
Ilhan Omar’s office has not yet responded to a request for comment.
In Feb. 2019, Omar triggered an uproar after she wrote, “It’s all about the Benjamins baby” in response to a tweet referencing House Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s pledge to take “action” against her over her criticism of Israel. Later, Omar suggested that American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, was paying politicians to take a favorable stance toward Israel.
Omar’s remarks drew bipartisan criticism in Congress. She later apologized and thanked colleagues for “educating [her] on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes.”
The Republican-backed effort to remove Omar from committee assignments took shape as lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle scrutinized Taylor Greene over her past and recent actions. A separate House effort seeks to remove Taylor Greene from office entirely.
