Rep. Ilhan Omar praised Fox News on Monday after the network publicly rebuked host Jeanne Pirro.
“Thank you, @FoxNews,” Omar tweeted. “No one’s commitment to our constitution should be questioned because of their faith or country of birth.”
Pirro suggested on her show Saturday night that the Minnesota congresswoman’s Muslim faith might make her less loyal to the United States.
“This is not who your party is. Your party is not anti-Israel, she is. Think about this. She is not getting this anti-Israel sentiment doctrine from the Democrat Party,” Pirro said. “So if it’s not rooted in the party, where is she getting it from? Think about it. Omar wears a hijab, which according to the Quran, 33:59, tells women to cover so they won’t get molested. Is her adherence to this Islamic doctrine indicative of her adherence to Sharia law, which is antithetical to the U.S. Constitution?”
Pirro’s statement was heavily criticized, even coming by some within Fox News, like contributor Guy Benson and Hufsa Kamal, a Muslim producer for “Special Report With Bret Baier.”
“@JudgeJeanine can you stop spreading this false narrative that somehow Muslims hate America or women who wear a hijab aren’t American enough? You have Muslims working at the same network you do, including myself,” Kamal said in a tweet.
Fox News condemned Pirro’s remarks in a statement and promised that Pirro had been spoken with.
“We strongly condemn Jeanine Pirro’s comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar. They do not reflect those of the network and we have addressed the matter with her directly,” a network rep said. The rep did not respond to requests to elaborate on how the matter was addressed or whether any disciplinary action will be taken.
Pirro released her own statement where she declined to apologize, and instead offered Omar the opportunity to appear on air.
“I’ve seen a lot of comments about my opening statement from Saturday night’s show and I did not call Rep. Omar un-American. My intention was to ask a question and start a debate, but of course because one is Muslim does not mean you don’t support the Constitution,” she said. “I invite Rep. Omar to come on my show any time to discuss all of the important issues facing America today.”
Omar had been under fire just days ago after she made remarks that questioned the “allegiance” of Israel supporters in the United States, which was called anti-semitic by a broad spectrum of figures including former Obama chief of staff Rahm Emanuel. Omar has not addressed the issue publicly.
Reps for Fox News did not immediately respond to request for comment from TheWrap.