After Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) made comments on Sunday evening that evoked an anti-Semitic trope by suggesting that Congress members’ support for Israel was a reflection of financial contributions from pro-Israel organizations like the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), congressional Democrats and Republicans alike criticized her remarks.

But six of those people have had anti-Semitic moments in their own pasts that cast shadows over their sudden concern for the Jewish community.

Among them:

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA)


McCarthy tweeted on Monday that “Anti-Semitic tropes have no place in the halls of Congress,” as he called on Democratic leaders to condemn Omar’s comments. But it was just a few months ago that McCarthy himself was accused of spreading anti-Semitic tropes when he accused three wealthy donors of Jewish descent trying to buy the 2018 midterm elections for the Democrats. “We cannot allow Soros, Steyer, and Bloomberg to BUY this election! Get out and vote Republican November 6th. #MAGA,” he tweeted in late October — the day after a pipe bomb sent to George Soros by an anti-Semite was intercepted by law enforcement. A day later he deleted the tweet.

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA)

Scalise tweeted on Monday: “Good that some Dems have condemned the disgraceful anti-Semitic remarks of Rep. Omar—but their words are empty unless Dem leaders remove her from the Foreign Affairs Committee. No one with her anti-Semitic views should be allowed to represent US foreign policy on that committee.” But if Scalise truly feels this is disqualifying, it is odd that he continues to hold a leadership role in Congress given that in 2002, he spoke to a gathering of European-American Unity and Rights Organization, a Southern Poverty Law Center-designated white nationalist organization founded by former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX)