GOP congressman blames Muslim 'controversies' for mass terror attack

Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) implied that there were legitimate “controversies” motivating the terrorist who killed dozens of Muslim worshippers in Christchurch, New Zealand.

At least 49 worshippers were murdered by a white supremacist expressing anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant views. Despite the horrific nature of the crime, Gohmert released a statement oddly sympathetic to the shooter.

“There are courts, dispute resolutions, and legislatures to resolve controversies – there is no place for cold blooded murders. Though New Zealand does not have the death penalty, hopefully its people, through their justice system, will send the message loudly and clearly that such barbarity from anyone will not be tolerated,” he wrote.

Gohmert didn’t elaborate on the “controversies” he cited, but the congressman has a long history of bigotry, particularly against Muslims, that betray his backhanded comment.

For years Gohmert promoted the unfounded conspiracy theory that the “Muslim Brotherhood” was spearheading a plot to take over the United States.

Gohmert and his fellow Republicans pushed for a federal investigation to see which government officials within the Obama administration were supposedly working for the organization, including Hillary Clinton’s chief of staff at the State Department.

He accused the Obama administration of “taking guidance from Muslim Brotherhood operatives, who are advising this administration, advising the State Department, advising Homeland Security, advising our intelligence.”

Gohmert has also ominously warned of terror babies, children born in the United States to immigrants who “one day, 20, 30 years down the road, they can be sent in to help destroy our way of life.”

He recently complained that the FBI does not use anti-Muslim rhetoric and ideas in its training manuals, as part of a bizarre attack on special counsel Robert Mueller, who used to lead the agency.

Gohmert is a bigot with a history of anti-Muslim rhetoric and actions. He is the sort of public figure that mainstreams the bile that the shooter regurgitated.

Even when superficially condemning the attack, Gohmert couldn’t resist indulging in the hate he knows so well.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.