U.S. Sen. John Kennedy became the target of a barrage of criticism and backlash after he questioned a Muslim witness during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.
The Louisiana Republican sparred with the executive director of the Arab American Institute during questioning Tuesday, culminating in a parting shot in which he told her, “You should hide your head in a bag.”
Maya Berry joined witnesses from the National Jewish Advocacy Center and Bard Center for the Study of Hate to testify during the congressional hearing, with discussion covering antisemitism and anti-Muslim hostility, notably on college campuses. Berry’s past objections to the U.S. pulling funding from the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine, or UNRWA seemed to be a point Kennedy brought up in his line of questioning which Berry found “exceptionally disappointing.”
The senator repeatedly asked the Muslim American if she supported Hamas and Hezbollah and was irked by her inability to answer with a simple yes or no.
“You support Hamas, do you not?” he asked Berry.
“Oddly enough, I’m going to say thank you for that question because it demonstrates the purpose of our hearing today,” she replied as Kennedy interrupted, asking for a yes or no answer.
“Hamas is a foreign terrorist organization that I do not support,” Berry said. “But you asking the executive director of the Arab American Institute that question very much puts the focus on the issue of hate in our country.”
“Well, I got your answer and I appreciate it. What is the– you support Hezbollah, too, don’t you?” the lawmaker pressed.
“Again, I find this line of questioning extraordinarily disappointing,” Berry replied, prompting Kennedy to question, “Is that a no?”
The back and forth continued with Kennedy looking for a straight and simple response while Berry called him out.
“I think it’s exceptionally disappointing that you’re looking at an Arab American witness before you and saying you support Hamas. I do not support Hamas,” she said after uproar in the chamber.
