A Democratic congressman said he voted incorrectly on a House resolution condemning supporters of terrorist organizations such as Hamas on college campuses.
Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that he submitted a correction for the record regarding H.R. 789, which condemns “the support of Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at institutions of higher education, which may lead to the creation of a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff.”
“On the House floor, I mistakenly voted against a resolution condemning campus antisemitism,” Torres posted Thursday night. “As a visible and vocal advocate against antisemitism on college campuses, especially in the wake of October 7th, I have submitted a correction for the record.
“I have no use for pro-Hamas protestors, and I despise them with every fiber of my being.”
The House passed the resolution 396-23, with 22 Democrats voting against, including members of the "Squad" of left-wing lawmakers Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), Ilhan Ohmar (Minn.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Ayanna Pressley (Mass.), Cori Bush (Mo.), Jamaal Bowman (N.Y.), and Pramila Jaypal (Wash.).
Torres condemned Hamas’ terrorist attack against Israel on Oct. 7, which killed more than 1,400 Israelis and at least 33 Americans, and said Israel has a right to defend itself. And on Oct. 27, he sent a letter to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona about the government’s response to the rise of antisemitic incidents on college campuses.
“I am deeply disturbed by the increase in incidents throughout our nation’s educational system,” Torres wrote. “Universities, college campuses, and other educational settings should be an environment of learning and understanding — not hatred, discrimination, and divisiveness.”
Earlier Thursday, Torres criticized a $14.5 billion aid package to Israel the House approved 226-196. To pay for the aid, House Republicans attached provisions that would cut billions from the IRS that Democrats approved last year, and Biden signed into law, to go after tax cheats.
“What is the point of voting on a cynically conceived bill that is dead on arrival in the Senate and that would be vetoed by the most the pro-Israel wartime President in history — the ONLY President to travel to Israel in a time of war?” Torres, who voted against the aid package, posted on X.
Michael Katz ✉
Michael Katz is a Newsmax reporter with more than 30 years of experience reporting and editing on news, culture, and politics.
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