WASHINGTON — All 25 Jewish House Democrats, including Reps. Brad Schneider and Jan Schakowsky of Illinois, on Friday called for the dismissal of one of the top Jewish members of the Trump administration, senior adviser Stephen Miller, for his white nationalist views, rejecting the White House defense that Miller critics are anti-Semitic.
Miller’s “documented support for white nationalist and virulently anti-immigrant tropes is wholly unacceptable and disqualifying for a government employee,” the lawmakers said in the letter, organized by Schneider and Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida.
This is just the latest call from Democrats for Miller’s resignation, fueled by the publication of e-mails Miller wrote to a now-former reporter at Breitbart News that pre-date his White House appointment.
Miller is one of President Donald Trump’s top immigration advisers; he is influential in promoting his hard-line anti-immigrant policies.
The letter also said, “As demonstrated by his recently released emails, Miller frequently disseminated the views of multiple hate groups supportive of white supremacy and other vile ideologies throughout 2016. His distribution of materials fear-mongering about ‘white genocide’ and supporting eugenics-based immigration theories are particularly disturbing given his leadership of your Administration’s immigration policies. With America experiencing historic levels of anti-Semitism, xenophobia, racism, and white supremacy, there should be no place in our government and on any President’s staff for people propagating such views.”
“We are also deeply troubled that your Administration is claiming that legitimate criticism of Miller is anti-Semitic simply because Miller is Jewish. Nothing could be further from the truth. Hateful ideology is not just unacceptable, it is un-American, irrespective of the faith, race, or nationality of the individual promoting it. Weaponizing anti-Semitism is incredibly dangerous – by muddying the waters, we are no longer able to see and fight against the real anti-Semites in our midst.”
In a Fox Business Network interview released Friday, Miller said he was not a white nationalist and tried to deflect the accusation by saying he is a victim of anti-Semitism. He underscored the point made by the 25 Jewish Democratic House members when he said the charge is “an attempt on the part of the Democratic Party to attack and demonize a Jewish staffer.”
