It’s another instance in which Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert suggested Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, who is Muslim and wears a hijab, was a terrorist
In those same remarks, she said that she felt safe around Omar because the Democrat wasn’t wearing a backpack while they were in an elevator together.
“One of my I staffers, on his first day with me, got into an elevator in the Capitol. And in that elevator, we were joined by Ilhan Omar,” Boebert told the crowd in September. “It was just us three in there and I looked over and I said, well, lookey there, it’s the Jihad Squad.
“She doesn’t have a backpack, she wasn’t dropping it and running so we’re good,” Boebert adds, through laughter and applause from the crowd which briefly makes her remarks somewhat inaudible.
Additionally, at the September event, Boebert also disparaged Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Minnesota, another Muslim member of Congress.
“Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib. These are just black-hearted evil women,” Boebert said.
On Monday, Boebert and Omar spoke on the phone, according to statements from both lawmakers.
In her statement, Omar said Boebert refused to apologize to her.
“Instead of apologizing for her Islamophobic comments and fabricated lies, Rep. Boebert refused to publicly acknowledge her hurtful and dangerous comments,” she said. “She instead doubled down on her rhetoric and I decided to end the unproductive call.”
A spokesperson for Omar called the elevator story “a fabrication.”
Omar on Monday blasted Boebert’s September comments in a message to CNN’s KFile.
“It just gets worse,” Omar told CNN. “This is unhinged, and she continues to be emboldened by her party. This is their brand and it’s dangerous.”
Comments from November
“So the other night on the House floor was not my first jihad squad moment,” Boebert told a crowd. “I was getting into an elevator with one of my staffers and he and I were leaving the Capitol, we’re going back to my office and we get in the elevator and I see a Capitol Police officer running hurriedly to the elevator. I see fret all over his face. And he’s reaching. The door is shutting. I can’t open it.”
“What’s happening? I look to my left and there she is, Ilhan Omar, and I said, ‘Well she doesn’t have a backpack, we should be fine,'” Boebert continued.
Last week, Boebert apologized to any offended in the Muslim community.
Omar said the “whole story” was made up and condemned Boebert for her comments.
On Friday, Omar called on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to take action against Boebert.
Democratic leaders said Boebert should fully retract her comments, noting in a statement the congresswoman’s “language and behavior are far beneath the standard of integrity, dignity and decency with which the Constitution and our constituents require that we act in the House.”
McCarthy said he spoke to Boebert on Friday in the wake of her comments and encouraged her to meet with Omar.
“She has apologized for what she said and has reached out to Congresswoman Omar to meet next week,” McCarthy said in a statement. “I spoke with Leader Hoyer today to help facilitate that meeting so that Congress can get back to talking to each other and working on the challenges facing the American people.”
McCarthy’s office did not respond to a request for comment on Boebert’s September comments. Pelosi’s office pointed to their weekend statement. Boebert and her staff did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
