Democrat Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar fled from a Fox News reporter outside of the U.S. Capitol Thursday as she was asked to respond to the tragic shooting that killed two Israeli Embassy staffers.
The alleged gunman, 31-year-old Elias Rodriguez, who appears to be a pro-Palestinian activist, opened fire on a group of four people as they exited the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C., Wednesday, which led to the deaths of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. Omar refused to react to the shooting when asked to comment by Fox News Capitol Hill producer Dan Scully.
“Congresswoman Omar, can I get your reaction to the shooting that happened in D.C. last night?” Scully asked.
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“I’m gonna go for now,” Omar said as she walked to a vehicle.
Rodriguez was initially seen “pacing back and forth” outside of the museum and then allegedly opened fire with a handgun on a group of four people. Law enforcement said that he shouted “free Palestine” as they arrested him, indicating that the act was targeted.
Omar is notably one of the most vocal anti-Israel members of Congress and has been supported by the National Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), a nationwide pro-Palestinian activist organization with chapters in elite universities across America. She has accused the U.S. of “backing crimes against humanity” in reference to Israel’s conflict with Hamas, leading Congress to even introduce a resolution in 2021 to censure her.
Hours after avoiding Scully’s question, Omar stated on X that she is “appalled” by the shooting and is holding the victims and their families “in [her] thoughts and prayers.”
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“I am appalled by the deadly shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum last night. Holding the victims, their families, and loved ones in my thoughts and prayers. Violence should have no place in our country,” Omar said.
Federal officials and the DC Metro Police Department are working together to investigate the tragic incident. Attorney General Pam Bondi said Thursday that Rodriguez will be “prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law” and expressed her condolences to the victims and their families.
“No parents should have to be called and told that their children were violently murdered leaving a religious event at the Jewish Museum. That should never happen in this world and not in our country and this person will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Bondi said on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.”
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Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s ambassador to the U.S., told reporters that Lischinsky planned on proposing to Milgram and already had the engagement ring picked out.
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social calling the shooting “horrible” and stated that “hatred and radicalism” must come to an end.
“These horrible D.C. killings, based obviously on antisemitism, must end, NOW! Hatred and Radicalism have no place in the USA. Condolences to the families of the victims. So sad that such things as this can happen! God Bless You ALL!” Trump said.
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First published by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
