Omar Avoids Questions on Shooting at Jewish Museum
On Thursday, Representative Ilhan Omar from Minnesota evaded questions from Fox News reporters outside the U.S. Capitol concerning a recent shooting that claimed the lives of two staff members from the Israeli embassy.
The suspect, Elias Rodriguez, aged 31, reportedly a Palestinian activist, opened fire on a group of four individuals after leaving the Jewish Museum in Washington, D.C. This tragic event resulted in the deaths of Jaron Lisinski and Sarah Milgrim. When asked for her response by Fox News producer Dan Scully, Omar declined to comment.
Scully inquired, “Rep. Omar, can you share your thoughts on the shooting that happened in D.C. last night?”
To this, Omar simply replied, “I’m going now,” as she walked towards her car.
Rodriguez allegedly interacted with the group outside the museum before firing a handgun at them. Witnesses reported that he shouted “Free Palestine” upon his arrest, suggesting a possible motive.
Omar has a supportive following among pro-Palestinian groups, particularly Students for Justice in Palestine, and has been one of Congress’s most vocal critics of Israel. She introduced a resolution in 2021, declaring the U.S. complicit in “crimes against humanity” in relation to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Later, after sidestepping Scully’s questions, Omar expressed her shock on social media about the shooting, extending her condolences to the victims and their families. She wrote, “I am saddened by the fatal shooting at the Capital Jewish Museum last night and hold the victims and their loved ones in my thoughts and prayers.”
Federally, officials alongside D.C. Metro Police are collaborating on the investigation. Attorney General Pam Bondy stated that Rodriguez would face full legal consequences. She emphasized that no parent should receive a call about their child’s violent death following a religious event, labeling the incident unacceptable in the U.S.
Yechiel Leiter, Israel’s U.S. Ambassador, mentioned that Milgrim’s fiancé was planning to propose to her.
Former President Donald Trump condemned the shooting, characterizing it as “terrifying” and calling for an end to “hatred and extremism.” He expressed his condolences, emphasizing the need to stop such acts rooted in anti-Semitism.
