U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) holds a press conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 24, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) said during an April 20 press conference that he does not share his uncle’s “controversial views” after being asked about a recently unearthed op-ed in which he defended his uncle and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan.
CNN reported on April 12 that they had discovered a 1992 op-ed written by Jeffries in the Black Student Union’s (BSU) newspaper at Binghamton University where he defended BSU’s decision to invite his uncle, Dr. Leonard Jeffries, to speak on campus. At that time, his uncle was under fire for saying in a 1991 speech that “rich Jews helped finance the slave trade” and there is a Hollywood “conspiracy” to disparage Black people and it’s being carried out “by people called Greenberg and Weisberg and Trigliani.” “Dr. Leonard Jeffries and Minister Louis Farrakhan have come under intense fire,” Jeffries, a board member for BSU, wrote in the op-ed. “Where do you think their interests lie? Dr. Jeffries has challenged the existing white supremist educational system and long standing distortion of history. His reward has been a media lynching complete with character assassinations and inflammatory erroneous accusations.” The CNN report noted that Jeffries has previously stated to various media outlets that he didn’t know much about his uncle’s controversial remarks.
When the UK Daily Mail asked about the op-ed during the April 20 press conference, Jeffries replied: “I’ve made clear consistently that I did not share any of controversial views that were expressed by my uncle more than three decades ago. Not now, not ever. As I’ve said, my track record and public service and professionally more than two decades of bringing people together and standing up for every single community, including the Black and Jewish communities that are proudly represented in Brooklyn.”
The Republican Jewish Coalition was not convinced. “Hakeem Jeffries still refuses to give the Jewish community an explanation as to why he lied and attempted to cover up his defense of his antisemite uncle and notorious bigot Louis Farrakhan,” they tweeted.
More lies from House Minority Leader @RepJeffries.
Hakeem Jeffries still refuses to give the Jewish community an explanation as to why he lied and attempted to cover up his defense of his antisemite uncle and notorious bigot Louis Farrakhan.https://t.co/dHArtCQbrm https://t.co/5ta89cXYpr
— RJC (@RJC) April 20, 2023
Representative Max Miller (R-OH), who is Jewish, previously tweeted, “From Louis Farrakhan to Ilhan Omar to members of his own family, Hakeem Jeffries has spent his adult life defending people who make antisemitic remarks. Those hateful views have no place in the House of Representatives, let alone defended by the Democratic Leader. His pattern of behavior is deeply concerning and worthy of further scrutiny.”
From Louis Farrakhan to Ilhan Omar to members of his own family, Hakeem Jeffries has spent his adult life defending people who make antisemitic remarks. Those hateful views have no place in the House of Representatives, let alone defended by the Democratic Leader.
— Congressman Max Miller (@RepMaxMiller) April 14, 2023
His pattern of behavior is deeply concerning and worthy of further scrutiny. https://t.co/PEZitAycEv
— Congressman Max Miller (@RepMaxMiller) April 14, 2023
Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), who is also Jewish, has defended Jeffries. Per the Daily Mail, Gottheimer told Punchbowl: “I can personally attest American Jews and Israel are lucky to have [Jeffries] as an unflinching supporter and champion.”
The Jewish Democratic Council of America (JDCA) has also defended Jeffries, tweeting on April 14 that Jeffries is “an unwavering partner of the Jewish American community and ally of Israel in Congress.” “We are grateful for his leadership defending democracy, fighting antisemitism and right-wing extremism, and standing with Israel,” they added. “His long record in Congress on these issues is beyond reproach and we condemn any assertions to the contrary. We are proud to call him a friend.”
Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has been an unwavering partner of the Jewish American community and ally of Israel in Congress.
We are grateful for his leadership defending democracy, fighting antisemitism and right-wing extremism, and standing with Israel.
His long record in…
— Jewish Dems (@USJewishDems) April 14, 2023
Though they did not reference Jeffries’ remarks in his April 20 press conference, the JDCA tweeted: “Donald Trump calls us disloyal. Marjorie Taylor Green [sic] claims we have ‘space lasers.’ George Santos insults us by claiming he’s ‘Jew-ish.’ Kevin McCarthy promotes antisemitic conspiracies and extremists. Remind us – which other Republicans promoting antisemitism did we miss?”
Donald Trump calls us disloyal. Marjorie Taylor Green claims we have ‘space lasers.’ George Santos insults us by claiming he’s “Jew-ish.” Kevin McCarthy promotes antisemitic conspiracies and extremists.
Remind us – which other Republicans promoting antisemitism did we miss?
— Jewish Dems (@USJewishDems) April 20, 2023
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.