According to Fox News, Colorado Democratic lawmakers are facing severe backlash for hosting a fundraiser with Rep. Ilhan Omar just 30 minutes after a horrific antisemitic terrorist attack injured 12 people in Boulder.
The Sunday attack, carried out by a man who was in the country illegally, targeted a rally supporting the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. The timing of the event with the controversial congresswoman has sparked outrage across the state.
The private reception featuring Omar, a well-known critic of Israel and member of the progressive "Squad," was held in Denver with ticket prices ranging from $500 to $7,000. The fundraiser took place as victims of the attack, including a Holocaust survivor, were being rushed to hospitals.
Colorado House Minority Caucus Chair Rep. Anthony Hartsook didn't mince words in his condemnation of the event. The Republican lawmaker issued a statement Monday characterizing the Democrats' actions as hypocritical and reprehensible.
"Colorado Democrats who raise money for a notorious anti-Semite should be ashamed of themselves for ever doing so, but doing it while victims of the latest wave of anti-Semitic violence were en route to the hospital is even more hypocritical and reprehensible," Hartsook stated.
He further connected the incident to past controversies, noting that "Just last year, House Democrats turned away families of Israeli hostages, denying them access to the House floor for fear that House Democrats' own radical members might cause a scene." Hartsook concluded by emphasizing that antisemitism has no place in Colorado.
The Boulder attack was allegedly carried out by 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, who now faces federal hate crime charges and numerous state-level attempted murder charges. Authorities have confirmed Soliman was in the country illegally after overstaying his visa and work authorization.
The suspect targeted a rally supporting the release of hostages held by Hamas since the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. Among the 12 victims was a Holocaust survivor, underscoring the sensitive nature of the incident and amplifying criticism of the Democrats' fundraising event.
Law enforcement quickly responded to the scene, blocking streets in the area as first responders treated victims. The attack has heightened concerns about the rise in antisemitic violence across the United States.
Rep. Junie Joseph, a Boulder Democrat who attended the Omar event, has faced particular scrutiny given her constituency includes the area where the attack occurred. Joseph offered a defense of her attendance while attempting to address the controversy.
"Sunday was a deeply painful day for our community. My heart is with the victims of the Boulder attack and all those affected. I unequivocally condemn hate and violence in all forms—including antisemitism and Islamophobia," Joseph said in an email to Fox News Digital.
Joseph explained that she was originally invited to introduce Omar at a Young Democrats event focused on youth engagement. When that event couldn't happen, she attended the separate gathering "as a matter of courtesy and civic respect," emphasizing that her attendance wasn't an endorsement of any particular policy or comment.
Rep. Ilhan Omar has long been a controversial figure regarding U.S.-Israel relations, with critics accusing her of antisemitic rhetoric in her criticism of Israeli policies. Following the Boulder attack, Omar posted on social media that "Violence against all forms is never acceptable. We must reject hatred and harm in all its forms."
The Minnesota congresswoman's presence at a high-dollar fundraiser so soon after an antisemitic attack has reignited debates about the boundaries of political discourse regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. Her campaign did not respond to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
Critics have pointed to what they see as a pattern of inflammatory rhetoric from Omar and other Squad members regarding Israel, while supporters defend her right to criticize Israeli government policies without being accused of antisemitism.
