Rep. Ilhan Omar has asserted that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is “racist” and “xenophobic” for keeping her off of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Global Human Rights.
The congresswoman lost the subcommittee assignment when she was removed from the House Foreign Affairs Committee by Speaker McCarthy.
Rep. Omar noted in her complaint that she is the only member of Congress born in Africa.
“As the only African born, not being on the Africa subcommittee is not just an elimination of a unique voice but an elimination of all the voices that have never been heard on a committee on the continent,” Rep. Omar tweeted. “It’s racist, xenophobic and discriminatory.”
As the only African born, not being on the Africa subcommittee is not just an elimination of a unique voice but an elimination of all the voices that have never been heard on a committee on the continent.
It’s racist, xenophobic and discriminatory.
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 26, 2023
The congresswoman also addressed her complaints in a statement before the press, saying that her exclusion is “not only a political stunt, but also a blow to the integrity of our democratic institutions and a threat to our national security.”
Kevin McCarthy’s purely partisan move to strip me, @RepAdamSchiff, and @RepSwalwell from our committees is not only a political stunt, but also a blow to the integrity of our democratic institutions and a threat to our national security.
My full remarks: pic.twitter.com/gfEdFAmOZf
— Rep. Ilhan Omar (@Ilhan) January 25, 2023
Rep. Omar had also complained about her removal from the committee during an appearance on MSNBC’s “Yasmin Vossoughian Reports” on Sunday.
“I think it would be hypocritical for him to remove, you know, the first African born on subcommittee on Africa on the Foreign Affairs Committee, where I’ve had the opportunity to not only represent my constituents but the voice of so many people who have never had a voice on the Foreign Affairs Committee,” Omar said during the appearance.
The new House Speaker said he was removing the congresswoman from the committee over her alleged “anti-Israel” statements.
“McCarthy has been specific in my case that this was a promise that he made to his donors,” says Rep. Omar during another MSNBC appearance. “It should be unethical for a speaker, for a leader to exchange dollars in removing a duly elected member from a committee.”
