House Democrats passed a bill this week condemning “Islamophobia” in response to a spat between Reps. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn.
The bill would create a special office within the State Department to combat anti-Muslim bigotry globally. It passed along party lines, 219-212.
Democrats introduced the bill in response to a joke Boebert made about Omar that seemed to target Omar’s Muslim faith. Boebert recalled that one day she and a staffer were taking a Capitol elevator when she saw an alarmed Capitol police officer running toward them. She said she turned to her left and spotted Omar standing beside them.
“Well, she doesn’t have a backpack. We should be fine,” Boebert recalled saying. “And I said, ‘Oh look, the jihad squad decided to show up for work today.’”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., didn’t name Boebert directly, but seemed to refer to Boebert’s joke during a debate on the bill.
“That language and behavior are far beneath the standard of dignity, of integrity — dignity and decency with which the Constitution and our constituents require that we act in the House,” Pelosi said. “These actions must be called out and not tolerated.”
Progressives, Omar included, wanted Democratic leadership to directly punish Boebert by stripping her of her committee assignments. However, leading Democrats were reportedly concerned that such a response would heighten Boebert’s profile in the GOP and make her a martyr.
Omar said on Tuesday she is still “optimistic” that the House will take further action against Boebert.
Boebert has already apologized to Omar publicly.
“I apologize to anyone in the Muslim community I offended with my comment about Rep. Omar,” she said on Twitter. “I have reached out to her office to speak with her directly. There are plenty of policy differences to focus on without this unnecessary distraction.”
