GOP Boots Rep. Ilhan Omar Off Foreign Affairs Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C — Republicans in the U.S. House on Thursday voted to boot Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar off of the Foreign Affairs Committee.

GOP members cited Omar's past use of antisemitic tropes in making the decision to oust her.

Thursday's resolution — proposed by Ohio Republican Rep. Max Miller — declared that "Omar’s comments have brought dishonor to the House of Representatives."

The resolution passed by a vote of 218-211, split along party lines.

In 2019, Omar apologized after she was criticized for her tweets about Israel. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the time characterized Omar's tweets as including "anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations."

But on Thursday, Democrats — including Omar herself — suggested that Republicans targeted Omar because she is a Black Muslim refugee.

"Well, I am a Muslim. I am an immigrant. And, interestingly, from Africa. Is anyone surprised that I am a target?" the Minnesota Democrat said on the House floor.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a close colleague of Omar, said Republicans' vote was part of the "disgusting legacies" of the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks that include "the targeting and racism against Muslim-Americans throughout the United States of America."

"This is about targeting women of color," Ocasio-Cortez added.

The removal of lawmakers from House committees was unprecedented until Democrats voted to oust Republican Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar.

Regardless of the motives, Thursday's removal of Omar from the Foreign Affairs Committee fulfilled a promise that House Speaker Kevin McCarthy made to the Republican Jewish Coalition prior to the 2022 midterms.

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story.