A fellow Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee says Rep. Ilhan Omar Ilhan OmarOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' Democrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise MORE (D-Minn.) should not be removed from the panel over her remarks concerning the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) influence over lawmakers.

Rep. Gerry Connolly Gerald (Gerry) Edward ConnollyJudge issues nationwide injunction against Postal Service changes House panel advances bill to ban Postal Service leaders from holding political positions Shakespeare Theatre Company goes virtual for 'Will on the Hill...or Won't They?' MORE (D-Va.) told CNN on Thursday that he hopes his colleague, who faced criticism for a tweets perceived as anti-Semitic, can be "mentored."

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"I don't know that this one outburst and that history you cite is enough to disqualify her from being on the Foreign Affairs Committee," he said. "It's certainly something to be watched, and hopefully she can be mentored."

“I’m not Jewish but I’ll tell you those remarks are offensive to me too," he continued.

The Virginia lawmaker went on to question why the media and Republicans were continuing to focus on the comments following Omar's apology.

"I will say this, Poppy," he added, addressing CNN's Poppy Harlow. "I don't understand why this is a three- or four-day story ... given all the other things we're dealing with."

"She's apologized. She was condemned by Democratic leadership. And she apologized unequivocally. Meanwhile, we have the contrast on the Republican side, where does one even begin to talk about hateful speech with him?" Connolly asked.

"So why the double standard between this young, Muslim woman, and all the other history that's out there?" he added.

"I don't know that this one outburst and that history you cite is enough to disqualify her from being on the Foreign Affairs Committee," Rep. @GerryConnolly says of Rep. Omar.



"It's certainly something to be watched and hopefully she can be mentored." https://t.co/li5ObXvjBS pic.twitter.com/pcrn6PENVi — CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) February 14, 2019

Omar apologized this week after she tweeted that Rep. Kevin McCarthy Kevin Owen McCarthyMcCarthy's Democratic challenger to launch first TV ad highlighting Air Force service as single mother Trump asked Chamber of Commerce to reconsider Democratic endorsements: report The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - White House moves closer to Pelosi on virus relief bill MORE's (R-Calif.) threats to act against her and fellow Rep. Rashida Tlaib Rashida Harbi TlaibTrump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' George Conway: 'Trump is like a practical joke that got out of hand' Pelosi endorses Kennedy in Massachusetts Senate primary challenge MORE (D-Mich.) over other purported examples of anti-Semitism was "all about the Benjamins," a reference to the 1997 song by Sean Combs, known at the time as Puff Daddy.

When questioned on social media about who she “thinks is paying American politicians to be pro-Israel,” the congresswoman replied “AIPAC!”

Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy PelosiPelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare House lawmakers reach deal to avert shutdown Centrist Democrats 'strongly considering' discharge petition on GOP PPP bill MORE (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerSenate Democrats introduce legislation to probe politicization of pandemic response Schumer interrupted during live briefing by heckler: 'Stop lying to the people' Jacobin editor: Primarying Schumer would force him to fight Trump's SCOTUS nominee MORE (D-N.Y.) were among the Democrats and Republicans who condemned Omar's tweets.

President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE, meanwhile, demanded her resignation from Congress or ouster from the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Omar responded to the president Wednesday, saying Trump "trafficked in hate."

"Hi @realDonaldTrump- You have trafficked in hate your whole life—against Jews, Muslims, Indigenous, immigrants, black people and more. I learned from people impacted by my words. When will you?" she tweeted Wednesday morning.

This article was updated at 12:05 p.m.