Rep. Ilhan Omar Faces Committee Assignment Challenge Over Charlie Kirk Comments

Republican lawmaker introduces resolution to strip Minnesota Democrat of committee posts following controversial remarks about slain conservative activist.

Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.) formally introduced a resolution Monday to remove Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) from her House committee assignments, marking the latest fallout from the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University.

Congressional Backlash Intensifies

Carter’s resolution targets Omar’s positions on both the House Budget Committee and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, where she serves as the top Democrat on the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. The Georgia Republican’s action follows Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-La.) Sunday criticism of Omar’s interview comments about Kirk’s death.

Omar faced Republican condemnation after appearing on Zeteo, a progressive news outlet, where she discussed Kirk’s assassination. While calling his death “mortifying,” Omar criticized Kirk’s past rhetoric and accused Republicans responding to the shooting of being “full of s-”. She specifically referenced Kirk’s previous comments downplaying slavery and opposing Juneteenth recognition.

Political Violence Debate Deepens

The controversy stems from Kirk’s fatal shooting on September 11 at Utah Valley University, where the 31-year-old Turning Point USA founder was addressing students. Tyler Robinson, a 22-year-old Utah resident, was arrested Friday on charges including aggravated murder and obstruction of justice.

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Monday that DNA evidence links Robinson to the crime scene, including material found on a towel wrapped around the suspected murder weapon and a screwdriver discovered on the rooftop where the shot was fired. Investigators revealed Robinson had written a note expressing his intention to “take out” Kirk when given the opportunity.

Omar Defends Position

Omar defended her comments on social media, stating she condemned Kirk’s murder multiple times while maintaining her right to disagree with his rhetoric. She posted that right-wing accounts were attempting to “spin a false story” to advance their agenda of vilifying the left.

The Minnesota congresswoman previously faced committee removal in February 2023 when Republicans voted 218-211 to strip her Foreign Affairs Committee assignment over past comments about Israel that were criticized as antisemitic.

Carter argued that “disparaging Charlie Kirk’s legacy” and using “language that incites violence toward political opponents” disqualifies Omar from committee service. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries had appointed Omar to the Budget Committee following her 2023 Foreign Affairs Committee removal.

The resolution represents escalating partisan tensions over political violence and free speech following Kirk’s assassination, which has prompted widespread condemnation from both parties while sparking debate over inflammatory rhetoric’s role in contributing to political violence.