As Matt detailed on Monday, progressive Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington was widely criticized over her recent interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, in which the two discussed Hamas’ mass rape of Israeli women, with the host specifically wondering why there’s been such silence among the left on this issue. While Jayapal insisted she condemned Hamas’ sexual violence against women as “horrific,” she quickly pivoted to arguing “we have to be balanced about bringing in the outrages against Palestinians.”
During a press briefing on Monday, a Fox News reporter asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre about the progressive's remarks, wondering if her call to be "balanced" was an "appropriate comment."
“So, we’ve been very, very clear. You heard a little bit from — from Jake Sullivan about this. I can only speak for — for the president. Uh, that’s who I can speak for, and we’ve been clear what Hamas did is absolutely reprehensible and — full stop. We’re going to continue to be clear about that. And we think about — you know, rape and the use of rape as being used as a — as a weapon, that is also reprehensible and that’s full stop, and I’ll just leave it there and I’m speaking for the president of the United States. I think there’s been — very clear on that,” Jean Pierre responded, without mentioning Jayapal.
“Any comment, though,” Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich followed up, “for Congresswoman Jayapal?”
“I just,” Jean-Pierre replied. “I just commented on — I just laid out what we believe is unacceptable.”
Karine Jean-Pierre refuses to condemn Democrat Rep. Pramila Jayapal for calling "to be balanced" in criticism of Hamas using rape as a weapon of war against innocent civilians pic.twitter.com/3Do0kYEN2Q
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) December 4, 2023
Some of Jayapal's Democratic colleagues had no problem condemning her remarks.
Hamas terrorists raped Israeli women and girls. The only ‘balanced’ approach is to condemn sexual violence loudly, forcefully and without exceptions. Outrageous for anyone to “both sides” sexual violence. https://t.co/dH6q0ksYqR
— Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (@RepDWStweets) December 4, 2023
