Pelosi Defends Omar: ‘It Took Them, What, 13 Years To Notice Steve King?’

on February 7, 2019 in Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 07: U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks during her weekly news conference on February 7, 2019 in Washington, DC. Pelosi answered questions ranging from House investigations of Pre... WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 07: U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi speaks during her weekly news conference on February 7, 2019 in Washington, DC. Pelosi answered questions ranging from House investigations of President Trump to the recent political scandals in Virginia. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images) MORE LESS
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As Republicans continue to berate freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) for her criticism of a pro-Israel lobbying group — with some calling for her resignation — Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) defended her own.

“A newcomer member of Congress has apologized for her remarks,” she told CNN. “It took them what, 13 years to notice Steve King?”

Pelosi appears to have moved on from the scandal, which she addressed with House leadership earlier this week by releasing a statement condemning Omar’s remarks, which have been criticized as anti-Semitic, and demanding an apology from the new member of her caucus. But, likely sour from the uproar last month that forced the party to finally address King’s history of racist comments, Republicans can’t let it go.

On Tuesday the party’s top leaders got involved. President Trump told reporters that Omar should resign and Pence called for her to be stripped of her seat on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

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