Sen. Cory Booker said he would not meet with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan after the New Jersey Democrat signaled he was open to a sit-down.
Booker clarified his stance while appearing Sunday on CNN, where guest host Dana Bash questioned Booker on comments he made while at a campaign event in Nevada last month.
“I want to ask about something you were recently asked, and that is about whether or not you would meet with Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. He’s unabashedly anti-Semitic. You said, ‘I don’t feel like I need to do that, but I’m not one of those people who says that I wouldn’t sit down with anybody to hear what they have to say,'” Bash said. “Is that still where you are?”
Booker said that his comments were misquoted and taken out of context.
“I will not sit down with Louis Farrakhan. Period. And I reject anybody who preaches that kind of bigotry and hate towards other Americans,” Booker said.
Booker said he was familiar with Farrakhan’s work at a campaign event on June 22, but did not categorically rule out a sit down with Farrakhan to listen to what the anti-Semitic preacher had to say.
“I live in Newark, so we have famous Mosque 25, we have Nation of Islam there,” Booker said at the time. “As mayor I met with lots of folks talking to him. I have heard Minister Farrakhan’s speeches for a lot of my life, so I don’t feel like I need to do that, but I’m not one of these people that says I wouldn’t sit down with anybody to hear what they have to say. But, I live in a neighborhood where I’m getting guys on the streets offering and selling his works. I am very familiar with Minister Louis Farrakhan and his beliefs and his values.”
