CNN "The Lead with Jake Tapper" - Transcript: Interview with Ilhan Omar

Interview

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REP. ILHAN OMAR (D-MN): I mean, I certainly believe that the goal was always to make sure that this was a bipartisan effort. You know, the American people are interested in finding out, as much as we are, what the truth is, what led to the insurrection, and what took place as part of that interaction on January 6. And so, if the Speaker believes that she can find Republicans that are reality based, that will engage in fact finding, that can be trusted by the American people, then I support it.

TAPPER: Would you want to be on the committee?

OMAR: I certainly could serve if the Speaker asks. I think right now, I am quite busy in the work that I am doing on my other committee. So, that's not something that I'm pursuing.

TAPPER: Let's talk about infrastructure, because you made it very clear earlier today that you want this infrastructure deal linked with the larger budget reconciliation deal that Democrats are working on. I understand you want them linked, but would you be OK if the smaller bipartisan infrastructure deal were to be signed into law on its own by President Biden, while Democrats are still working on the reconciliation bill, the budget bill?

OMAR: I think it's really important for these bills to move simultaneously together, because there are so many people will feel like the bipartisan piece of legislation does not accomplish what the American people entrusted us to do, which is to deliver on health care, on climate, on housing, and on immigration. And so, we have to be able to do that in the reconciliation bill.

And I don't think that we will be able to keep the Progressive Caucus together in supporting one legislation while the other one is still being worked on.

TAPPER: I guess, I don't understand why, fully, if infrastructure is so important, and it is, why would Democrats not want a bipartisan bill that could be passed for weeks or even months while the larger bill is being written?

OMAR: Well, we seem to think that infrastructure isn't just roads and bridges that our care, system is also part of infrastructure, and we want to make sure that we are delivering on a 21st century infrastructure package. And that can only be accomplished if we do both the reconciliation and the bipartisan bill together.

TAPPER: Senator Bernie Sanders, he's the chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, he suggested he's looking at a price tag for that big budget reconciliation bill of around $6 trillion. West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin says 2 trillion is about where he is. Where do you think this should end up?

OMAR: So, we've been in conversations with Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Schumer, Chairman Sanders, and Chairman Yarmouth, we haven't really set our sights on a particular number. What we have been talking at a great length is what the details look like, and whether the priorities, the five priorities that the Progressive Caucus has laid out will be included in that package.

TAPPER: I want to turn to the airstrikes that President Biden just ordered launched a few days ago. He just sent a letter, the President, to House and Senate leaders defending his decision to launch those airstrikes against what the government describes as Iranian backed militias in Iraq and Syria. Do you think the strikes were justified?

OMAR: I don't. And you know, we are yet to clearly hear what those justifications are. We have asked for a classified briefing. We are told that the Foreign Affairs Committee will get one, no date has been set on when that classified hearing will take place.

Look, I think it is really important for us to realize that this cycle of violence and retribution does not make anyone safe. We've heard from the Iraqi government in their rebuke and in their condemnation, they've talked about how we have violated their sovereignty.

This is an administration that has said they want to lead the international world as an administration that believes in, you know, the rule of law and respects international law. And we find ourselves where we are being rebuked by a country that we say has invited us and is been asking us repeatedly to leave.

[17:20:08]

And so, the question that should be asked is why are we still there? Is it OK for us to continue to engage in proxy war with Iran and Syria while our troops are in in Iraq? And is it time for this administration to come before Congress to ask for authorization?

And I know that in many cases, you know, we've seen this administration and other administration's talk about the powers that they have in Article 2 in defense.

TAPPER: Right.

OMAR: But what should be considered defense is a question that we need to talk about. If you are in someone's backyard, can you say you are defending yourself?

TAPPER: It's a good question.

On the subject of the Middle East, you're upset (ph), as you know, many of your fellow House Democrats after comments you made earlier this month about the U.S. and Israel. You were questioning Secretary of State Blinken about where victims of war crimes could get justice. You made comments to him.

And also you tweeted, quote, "We must have the same level of accountability and justice for all victims of crimes against humanity. We have seen unthinkable atrocities committed by the U.S., Hamas, Israel, Afghanistan, and the Taliban," unquote.

Ultimately, Democratic leaders said that equating the U.S. and Israel with Hamas and the Taliban, quote, "foments prejudice." And as you know, a group of Jewish House Democrats wrote a letter to President Biden saying that accusing Israel of acts of terror as you and other members of the squad have done is anti-Semitic. Do you regret these comments?

OMAR: I don't, I think it's really important to think back to the point that I was trying to make. Obviously, I was addressing Secretary of State Blinken.

The cases are put together in front of the ICC. ICC has been investigating. I know that, you know, some of my colleagues don't lend legitimacy to the ICC. But I tend to think that people around the world who have experience injustice need to be able to have a place where they can go and as a country that helped found the ICC and supported it. I think that it is really important for us to continue to find ways in which people can find justice around the world.

TAPPER: Some of your fellow House Democrats have been frustrated, as you know, they've told you this publicly, and I'm sure possibly privately, because they want to join you in your fight for justice. But sometimes you've made comments that make them -- that offend them.

In 2019, you said lawmakers support Israel, because it's quote, "all about the Benjamins," which implies that politicians only support Israel because of money. There was a tweet from 2012 when you say Israel had hypnotized the world. Do you understand why some of your fellow House Democrats, especially Jews, find that language anti- Semitic?

OMAR: I have welcomed anytime, you know, my colleagues have asked to have a conversation to learn from them, for them to learn from me. I think it's really important for these members to realize that they haven't been partners in injustice. They haven't been, you know, equally engaging in seeking justice around the world.

And I think, you know, I will continue to do that. It is important for me as someone who knows what it feels like to experience injustice in ways that many of my colleagues don't to be a voice in finding accountability, asking for mechanisms for justice for those who are maligned, oppressed, and who have had injustice than to them.

TAPPER: But what do you say to them? I hear everything you're saying about your fight for justice, but what do you say to them when they say, I hear what you're saying, but the terms you're using, the language you're using is anti-Semitic.

OMAR: No, and I hear that. I have obviously clarified and, you know, apologize when I have felt that my words have offended. And it's really important, right?

As I've explained to my colleagues, they have engaged in Islamophobic tropes. I have yet to receive an apology. I think, you know, when we are engaging in a space where we don't know how our language will be received, it is important for us to be open minded.

And I think I have always been someone who is humbled, someone who understands how words can be harmful and hurtful to people. And I've always listened and learned and behaved accordingly and showed up with compassion and care.

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TAPPER: And I certainly hope that the threats that you experienced in the past have gone away because that was horrific.

OMAR: Thank you.

TAPPER: Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, thanks so much for taking our questions. We appreciate it.

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