What’s happening
An influential Jewish organization is urging House Representative Elissa Slotkin, a Democrat and Senate candidate, to distance herself from a top campaign adviser, Terra DeFoe, who has close ties to Louis Farrakhan. Farrakhan is a notorious figure known for his extreme antisemitic rhetoric.
Why it matters
This issue is a significant concern for the Jewish community and advocates against antisemitism. Failure to act could indicate a tolerance for hate speech and could undermine Slotkin’s credibility, especially given her background in counterterrorism and intelligence.
The details
In 2017, Terra DeFoe openly supported Louis Farrakhan, who has made numerous antisemitic statements, comparing Jews to termites and praising Hitler. DeFoe’s support extends to attendance at Nation of Islam conventions and public admiration for its divisive leader. Financial records show DeFoe received nearly $60,000 from Slotkin’s campaign, raising questions about the screening process for such critical advisory roles.
The response
Jewish leaders, such as Liora Rez of StopAntisemitism and Brooke Goldstein of the Lawfare Project, are vocal about the urgent need to fire DeFoe. Rez underscores that Slotkin should decisively remove DeFoe to demonstrate zero tolerance for antisemitism. Goldstein calls this situation “inexcusable” for an elected official claiming to uphold equality and safety.
Big picture
Slotkin’s response, or lack thereof, could impact her Senate campaign and signal to constituents her stance on antisemitism. As an elected official of Jewish descent, Slotkin’s actions regarding this matter are under intense scrutiny to ensure consistent commitment to fighting hatred and promoting equality.
What to watch
Observers are awaiting further comments from Slotkin’s campaign, which was unresponsive at the time of reporting. With the next campaign finance disclosures due in July, the scrutiny on Slotkin and her campaign’s associations is likely to intensify.
This story was first published on foxnews.com.