Rep. Ilhan Omar Ripped For Not Condemning Armenian Genocide

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Ilhan Omar is drawing harsh criticism from people across the political spectrum this week after she did not vote in favor of a congressional resolution that recognized the Armenian genocide. The bill denounced "the killing of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to 1923."

In a statement to CNN, Omar said she voted "present" because she believes the United States must also condemn "earlier mass slaughters" including "Native American genocide" and the "transatlantic slave trade."

She also said genocide "should not be used as a cudgel in a political fight."

Omar sparred with MSNBC host Chris Hayes about her vote on Twitter.

The resolution easily passed with support from both Democrats and Republicans, with a vote of 405-to-11 Tuesday.

"Members of my own family were among those murdered, and my parents fled with my grandparents to America," tweeted Rep. Anna Eshoo, a Democrat from California. "What all of the persecuted had in common was that they were Christians."

Omar was also the only Democrat to vote against a bill to impose sanctions on Turkish President Recep Erdoğan. That bill also passed in the House.

Among the harshest critics of Omar's actions is Enes Kanter, a Swiss-born NBA player who is of Turkish descent. Kanter accused Omar of possibly being on the "payroll" of Erdoğan.

Sophia Armen, chairwoman of the Feminist Front group, called Omar's explanation for her vote "awful."

On the right, conservatives accused Omar — one of two Muslim women ever elected to Congress — of singling out Israel and not similarly condemning the actions of other nations.

In February, Omar apologized after receiving criticism from leaders in her own party over tweets about Israel. Omar had said that members of Congress support Israel because they're paid by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.