Lawmakers from both parties have condemned the attack on US Representative Ilhan Omar after she was sprayed with an unknown substance during a town hall in Minneapolis on Tuesday evening.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries rebuked Donald Trump for suggesting that Omar had staged the incident, calling the former president's comment “disgusting”. Jeffries said Trump’s “lies and misinformation continue to fan the flames of these types of violent incidents”.
Trump has long targeted Omar, who came to the US as a refugee and has been a citizen for more than 25 years. In recent weeks he has intensified xenophobic attacks, including calling for her to be “sent back to Somalia”.
Democratic Representative Jasmine Crockett said she was “disgusted” and “outraged”, blaming “nonstop hate and dangerous rhetoric from Trump and his allies”. Congresswoman Angie Craig said she was “relieved” Omar was safe, but added: “The rise in political violence in our state must stop.” Senator Chris Van Hollen said Trump’s “baseless and racist attacks” had endangered Omar.
Republicans also spoke out. South Carolina Representative Nancy Mace said she was “deeply disturbed”, adding: “No elected official should face physical attacks. This is not who we are.” Nebraska Representative Don Bacon said political violence “is always wrong” and called for the attacker to be jailed.
The attack comes after Florida Representative Maxwell Frost was punched in the face at the Sundance film festival by a man who said Trump would deport him.
