Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), the progressive congresswoman who is a member of the legislative group known as The Squad, has gained national notoriety since the war between Israel and the terrorist group Hamas began. Her rhetoric against the Jewish State even caused her colleagues to decide to censure her in early November. In addition, these comments caused important Democratic donors to seek to unseat her in 2024.
One of them is Linden Nelson, who has been involved in the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). As reported by POLITICO, he offered $20 million in campaign contributions to a Democratic Senate candidate to enter the primary and challenge Tlaib.
The candidate in question is Francis Hill Harper, the actor who plays Marcus Andrews in "The Good Doctor." He announced his candidacy for the Senate to replace Debbie Stabenow, who decided not to seek another term in the Senate. Self-defined as the "most progressive candidate in the field," he promotes universal health care and the end of the filibuster as electoral banners, contrasting with his most prominent rival in the Democratic primary, Elissa Slotkin.
I didn’t intend for a private phone call to turn public. But now that it has, here’s the truth.
One of AIPAC’s biggest donors offered $20m if I dropped out of the U.S. Senate race to run against @RashidaTlaib.
I said no. I won’t be bossed, bullied, or bought. https://t.co/Ji76jwPE3X
— Hill Harper (@hillharper) November 22, 2023
"Hill is running to take on the entrenched special interests and corrupt system holding our state and our nation back - because Hill knows Michigan deserves a truly independent Senator who will do what's right for all of us, not just a wealthy few. This isn't the campaign that will have the most endorsements from DC insiders, but it is the campaign focused on people and the issues that matter to us all," he says on his campaign website.
Harper himself was in charge of later confirming the news on his X account, formerly known as Twitter. "It was not my intention for a private call to become public. But now that it has, here's the truth. One of AIPAC's biggest donors offered me $20 million if I dropped out of the Senate race to run against Rashida Tlaib. I said no. I won't be bossed, bullied, or bought," he wrote.
Censorship of Rashida Tlaib
The House of Representatives criticized the congresswoman due to her statements about the war between Israel and Hamas. Specifically, the resolution formally condemned her for "calling for the destruction of the State of Israel." Just days later, connections between activists linked to the terrorist group and the Democrat's congressional campaign in 2018 began to emerge.
22 Democrats joined all Republicans in censuring Tlaib, who amplified her rhetoric against the Jewish State since October 7.
What does censure mean for a member of the House of Representatives? It is like a reprimand for bad behavior that does not merit expulsion. In official words, it is a reprimand that "records the House's deep disapproval of members' misconduct which, however, does not meet the threshold for expulsion."
This measure does not affect the daily life of the congressman in question, in this case, Tlaib. She will not be removed from any committee, nor will her authority as a member of the House be hindered.
