Democratic lawmakers condemn journalist after Hakeem Jeffries ‘AIPAC monkey’ remark

Palestinian journalist and author Rula Jebreal is facing widespread criticism after referring to House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., as an “AIPAC monkey” during a podcast appearance.

Jebreal made the comment Wednesday while appearing on Wajahat Ali’s podcast, The Left Hook, during a discussion about Jeffries’ support for Israel and his relationship with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC.

“His name is Hakeem … he’s not a healer, he’s a divider,” Jebreal said before describing Jeffries as a “bought and paid by AIPAC monkey” and an “errand boy.”

Jebreal immediately added that she did not mean the comment in a racist way. 

She later explained that she was referring to the familiar image of the “three wise monkeys,” associated with seeing no evil, hearing no evil and speaking no evil.

Democrats condemned the remarks.

The Congressional Black Caucus said there is “isn’t a non-racist way” to refer to Jeffries, who is African American, as a “monkey” or “errand boy,” arguing that such language has historically been used in anti-Black rhetoric.

Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., called the remarks “blatantly racist and offensive rhetoric."

Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., also condemned the comments, writing that “calling a Black man a ‘monkey’ is racist.”