Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., questions Columbia University president Nemat Shafik at the House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Arguing there have simply been what she categorizes as "anti-war" or "pro-war" protests at the university, Omar asked Shafik if she's seen any "protest saying we are against Jewish," to which the Columbia president responded "I have not." But Stefanik rejected the assertion, later on at the hearing noting how "the slurs and the chants have been ‘f the Jews. Death to Jews. F Israel. No place. Death to the Zionist state. Jews out.’ You don't think those are anti-Jewish?"
Shafik agreed, "Completely anti-Jewish, Completely," to which Stefanik said, "So you changed your testimony on that issue as well. So there have been anti-Jewish protests."
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., questions witnesses during a House Committee on Education and the Workforce hearing about antisemitism on college campuses, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on April 17, 2024. (DREW ANGERER/AFP via Getty Images)
"This arrogance is eerily reminiscent to the previous three university presidents who believed walking out of the hearing that their testimony was acceptable," Stefanik said. "Columbia is in for a reckoning of accountability. If it takes a member of Congress to force a university president to fire a pro-terrorist, antisemitic faculty chair, then Columbia University leadership is failing Jewish students and its academic mission. No amount of overlawyered, overprepped, and over-consulted testimony is going to cover up for failure to act."
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Notably, the House GOP chair grilled the presidents of Harvard, UPenn and MIT in December on whether calls for the genocide of Jews violated university policy against bullying and harassment or their codes of conduct. Each school leader said more context would be needed, failing to give a definitive response.
Months later, after those testimonies prompted widespread outcry and the resignations of two of the three presidents, Shafik and other Columbia witnesses testified definitively, "yes," to the same question.
Danielle Wallace is a reporter for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, police and more. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on Twitter: @danimwallace.
Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more Fox News politics content.
Subscribed
You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/stefanik-slams-columbia-university-arrogance-inconsistent-testimony