House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., delivered a veiled reproach of controversial comments made by fellow Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar in an impassioned speech at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee’s annual policy conference Sunday.
Hoyer told the crowd at AIPAC he stood with Israel “proudly and unapologetically.”
“When someone accuses American supporters of Israel of dual loyalty, I say: Accuse me,” Hoyer said to applause.
The line was a reference to Omar, who made remarks widely interpreted to be anti-Semitic, suggesting lawmakers support Israel for campaign donations and some American Jews might hold dual allegiances to the U.S. She specifically pointed AIPAC, tweeting, “It’s all about the Benjamins, baby.”
Omar was roundly condemned by both Republicans and many Democrats over the remarks.
“I am part of a large, bipartisan coalition in Congress supporting Israel, an overwhelming majority in the Congress of the United States. And I tell Israel’s accusers and detractors: Accuse us,” Hoyer said.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., a fellow freshman representative, said that AIPAC was “coming after” her, Omar, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., in a fund-raising email earlier this month.
Some of the Democratic candidates for president announced last week they would not be attending the conference, with progressive advocacy group MoveOn urging them to skip days before the event. Former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton attended the event in 2016 before being named the Democratic nominee, and both Clinton and former President Barack Obama attended in 2008.
In response to Omar’s comments, Democrats crafted a resolution denouncing anti-Semitism but ultimately scrapped that one in favor of a resolution denouncing all forms of bigotry.
