Congressional Black Caucus backs Ilhan Omar

“We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban,” Omar added. “I asked @SecBlinken where people are supposed to go for justice.”

After calls from fellow Democrats to clarify her statement, Omar said her conversation with Blinken was about “accountability for specific incidents” under investigation by the International Criminal Court. “I was in no way equating terrorist organizations with democratic countries with well-established judicial systems,” she said.

Republicans have pushed for Omar to be censured or removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee. But it isn’t so simple for the GOP, with one of their own members known for incendiary and inflammatory rhetoric that has raised tensions within their conference.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has most recently come under fire after comments in which she compared Covid-19 regulations to the Holocaust. Greene apologized this week after touring the Holocaust Museum, telling reporters that her past comments about Jewish people and Nazi Germany were “offensive” and “hurtful,” adding that she was “truly sorry.”

Democrats have already moved to strip Greene from her committees, though many members say Greene’s record of inflammatory rhetoric, which has also included endorsing violence against other members, does not compare to Omar’s comments.

“[Omar] should not be mentioned in the same breath as Marjorie Taylor Greene, in my view,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), whose Congressional Progressive Caucus also released a statement of support for Omar this week.

Sarah Ferris contributed to this report.