(Hill) Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) is drawing criticism for echoing language used by Turkey to deny the Armenian genocide took place.
Omar is one of two Democrats who voted “present” on a House resolution recognizing the systematic massacres of Armenian Christians that took place in the early 20th century.
The resolution drew widespread bipartisan support in the House, passing with a vote of 405 to 11, and was brought to a vote alongside Democratic efforts to sanction Turkey for its incursion into northeastern Syria.
In a written explanation for her vote, Omar said that the recognition of genocide and mass atrocities should be done outside politics and “based on academic consensus,” a phrase that Armenian rights groups say Turkish deniers use to sow doubt.
