Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar has “unequivocally” apologized for tweets suggesting that members of Congress support Israel because they are being paid to do so. Omar’s tweets drew bipartisan criticism, including a rebuke from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Omar said she had no intention of offending anyone, including Jewish Americans, tweeting: “We have to always be willing to step back and think through criticism, just as I expect people to hear me when others attack me about my identity. This is why I unequivocally apologize.”
In a pair of tweets over the weekend, Omar criticized the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. “It’s all about the Benjamins baby,” she wrote, invoking slang about $100 bills. Asked on Twitter who she thought was paying members of Congress to support Israel, Omar responded, “AIPAC!”
It was these comments that sparked a statement issued by Nancy Pelosi’s office, signed by other Democratic leaders after bipartisan backlash: “Congresswoman Omar’s use of anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israel’s supporters is deeply offensive. We condemn these remarks, and we call upon Congresswoman Omar to immediately apologize for these hurtful comments.”
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