Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) has been facing questions over being a pictured with an avowed Hezbollah supporter; she has now said that she doesn’t know who he is.
On January 12, Tlaib was seen in a photograph with Abbas Hamideh, who has repeatedly expressed support for Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah at her swearing-in ceremony. Tlaib can also be seen in a picture with Hamideh in April 2018.
Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt is among those who have called for Tlaib to clarify her association with Hamideh.
Tlaib told the Detroit Free Press on Friday that she didn’t “know him and the ceremony was open to anyone who wanted to come, no names taken.”
“A photo does not mean I agree with anything someone says. It is obvious this man thrives on media attention from his recent posts,” Tlaib said. “It’s unfortunate that he was successful. I do not agree with the statements brought to my attention.”
Hamideh told The Daily Caller the day before he became acquainted with Tlaib when he decided to support her congressional bid but they don’t have a “close relationship.”
“Now, she knows me well, don’t get me wrong, and I know her well through her campaign and stuff like that— like we’ve met numerous times [at] numerous events,” Hamideh said.
