Anti-Defamation League (ADL) CEO Jonathan Greenblatt issued a statement on Twitter denouncing three congressional Democrats for attending a dinner hosted by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in 2013 that Louis Farrakhan was at.
Greenblatt called it “extremely disturbing” that the three members, Reps. Keith Ellison (D-MN), who is also the deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Andre Carson (D-IN) dined with “hatemongers.”
“Yes, it may have been an ‘official’ event org by Iran govt,” Greenblatt tweeted. “However, this is one of the most repressive & aggressive regimes in world, a govt that specializes in state-sponsored #antisemitism, regularly commits #humanrights violations and actively engages in #terror.”
Greenblatt then lambasted Farrakhan for being “an unrepentant anti-Semite who has said Jews are Satanic & responsible for 9/11.”
“Some of those who attended have repudiated Farrakhan & his intolerance in the past. They should do so again,” Greenblatt wrote. “They owe it to their constituents + Jewish community to explain their rationale and remind the world that there is no statue [sic] of limitations on standing up to hate.”
1/5 Still gathering information about this mtg. Based on what we know, its extremely disturbing that Dem reps or members of any political group would attend a session hosted by hatemongers. https://t.co/LIlMXNyQev
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) February 12, 2018
2/5 Yes, it may have been an "official" event org by Iran govt. However, this is one of the most repressive & aggressive regimes in world, a govt that specializes in state-sponsored #antisemitism, regularly commits #humanrights violations and actively engages in #terror.
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) February 12, 2018
3/5 Iranian officials have perfected the use of PR as a cover for repression & violence. Just ask the peaceful protesters across Iran arrested & assaulted by thugs dispatched by Rouhani govt. American elected reps should not allow themselves to be manipulated by the regime.
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) February 12, 2018
4/5 Yes, there may have been many ppl there but the presence of Louis Farrakhan should have been a red flag. He is an unrepentant anti-Semite who has said Jews are Satanic & responsible for 9/11. Don't take my word for it. Read his own words here https://t.co/l4Wevd2RgF
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) February 12, 2018
5/5 Some of those who attended have repudiated Farrakhan & his intolerance in the past. They should do so again. They owe it to their constituents + Jewish community to explain their rationale and remind the world that there is no statue of limitations on standing up to hate.
— Jonathan Greenblatt (@JGreenblattADL) February 12, 2018
A spokesperson for Ellison told National Journal editor Josh Kraushaar that Ellison and Farrakhan didn’t talk to each other at the event.
Talked w Ellison spox about this earlier today. Spox said Ellison didn't talk to Farrakhan at the event // they were on opposite sides of the room (& didn't have dinner).
Spox wondered why this was news since it's reported by conservative media. But now ADL raising red flags. https://t.co/jPJdkjHbvP
— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) February 12, 2018
This is the type of story that MSM often slower to pick up on. If GOP Congressman X was caught at an event with David Duke, imagine there wld be instant outrage.
— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) February 12, 2018
as of now, Rep. Ellison hasn't offered a statement yet explaining what happened — or even offering a denunciation of Farrakhan.
— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) February 12, 2018
Would the spin that Ellison didn't actually talk directly with Farrakhan — but was at same event — fly if it was a GOP congressman who was in same room as <bigoted individual> X?
— Josh Kraushaar (@JoshKraushaar) February 12, 2018
The reported 2013 dinner and 2016 visit with Farrakhan is the latest Farrakhan-related controversy for Ellison, who has been plagued with questions about his prior ties to Farrakhan’s Nation of Islam (NOI) ever since he first ran for Congress in 2006. Ellison has repudiated the organization on multiple occasions; his defense is that he was only involved with NOI for 18 months although there is evidence to suggest his involvement with NOI and ardent defense of Farrakhan lasted for 10 years.
“Which is the real Ellison: The one who drafts earnest letters of apology to Jewish groups? Or the one who, as recently as 2013, saw it fit to dine with Farrakhan under Iranian auspices?” Commentary’s Sohrab Ahmari wrote.
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