GOP targets Ilhan Omar as Dems try to expel Marjorie Taylor Greene from House panels over conspiracy theories
After the Democrats tried to see Georgia Republican Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene ousted from committees for making controversial remarks in the past, it was time for some GOP members in the House to target Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar off her committee assignments.
The GOP move came as the Republican Conference found itself split by demands to remove Greene’s assignments over her remarks that support conspiracy theories and online postings about the assassination of Nancy Pelosi, the speaker of the House. The same day, ie., February 3, also saw the GOP conference witnessing a deep division on the question of punishing Conference Chair Liz Cheney for her backing the impeachment of former president Donald Trump in the House last month.
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Arizona GOP Representative Andy Biggs is one those members of the Red Party who are in favor of the tit-for-tat strategy. One of the members of a group that promoted claims of fraud affecting the 2020 presidential election, Briggs defended Greene saying her controversial statements were made before she became a member of the Congress. “We're talking about statements that were made before she was even ever a candidate to Congress. That, I think, has some bearing here. On the other hand, you have statements from Ilhan Omar, actually from Nancy Pelosi or Maxine Waters, Representative Pressley, a whole plethora of folks, that while they're sitting here made offensive or dangerous statements as well,” Briggs, who is also the chair of the House Freedom Caucus, said on Fox.
“Look, if it’s good for the goose it’s good for the gander. Maybe what should happen is you let Republicans take care of our own and you Democrats take care of your own,” he added.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) says he's supporting an amendment to remove Ilhan Omar from her committees in response to a resolution to strip Greene of hers because "what's good for the goose is good for the gander."
— Justin Baragona (@justinbaragona) February 3, 2021
Harris Faulkner: "It's an interesting point." pic.twitter.com/PzkWi4gAht
Biggs also tweeted on February 3 to say: “Leftist Members of Congress have advocated for violence, anti-Semitism, anti-law enforcement, & other sentiments that have violated rules of decorum & principles of American decency. That's why I'm calling for Rep Omar to be removed from her committee.”
Leftist Members of Congress have advocated for violence, anti-Semitism, anti-law enforcement, & other sentiments that have violated rules of decorum & principles of American decency.
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) February 3, 2021
That's why I'm calling for Rep Omar to be removed from her committee. https://t.co/ukRPYAkHx0
Omar is also known for courting controversies often
Omar, who is Somalian-born and a member of the ‘Squad’, is also known for courting controversies. Since joining the Congress in 2019, the 38-year-old lawmaker has made disputed remarks on a number of occasions including the infamous “it’s all about the Benjamins baby” that saw many across the political aisle calling her anti-semitic. She apologized for the comments later.
Omar, who is a staunch critic of Israel, found herself at the receiving end of bipartisan criticism two years ago after claiming that pro-Israel politicians in the US were being funded by the pro-Israel American Israel Public Affairs Committee group. Omar, who also serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, tried to control the damage later by tweeting she was grateful to Jewish allies and colleagues who taught her on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes. She said it was never her intention to offend her constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole.
Listening and learning, but standing strong 💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/7TSroSf8h1
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) February 11, 2019
Meanwhile, the full House will vote on Thursday, February 4, to strip Greene of her committee assignments after a number of posts resurfaced on the social media causing both the Republicans and Democrats to denounce the first-time Congress member, who is known to be a sympathizer to QAnon conspiracy theories.
California Democratic Representative Jammy Gomez introduced a resolution seeking Greene’s removal from the Congress, saying she promoted “extremism and sedition”. But to achieve the goal, two-thirds majority of the vote will be required. Only five lawmakers have been expelled from the House till now with James Traficant, a Democrat from Ohio, being the most recent one (in 2002) after getting convicted on 10 felony counts, including racketeering and bribery.
Greene, who reportedly got a standing ovation from her GOP allies in the House on Wednesday, February 3, refused to apologize for her remarks after top Republican in the House Kevin McCarthy sought to persuade her.