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FIRST ON FOX – House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., accused Columbia University President Dr. Nemat "Minouche" Shafik of attempting to "cover-up" for a "pro-terrorist" prof who had celebrated the Oct. 7 attacks, during her legislature grounds this week.
"A reminder to President Shafik that knowingly misleading Congress is simply a felony," Stefanik warned successful a connection shared archetypal with Fox News Digital. "Despite Columbia President Shafik’s testimony, determination has been NO enactment to occurrence oregon subject pro-terrorist and antisemitic module seat Professor Joseph Massad."
"Columbia has attempted to screen up for Shafik’s lies updating their website to amusement Massad arsenic ‘outgoing chair’ but garbage to instantly region him contempt Shafik committing to astatine the hearing," Stefanik continued. "Meanwhile, Massad claims nary 1 from the University has adjacent spoken to him astir his hateful statements oregon immoderate investigation."
"Shafik’s mendacious grounds and refusal to code the severity of the rampant antisemitism connected her field is an affront to the Jewish students and module astatine Columbia nether her failed leadership," she said.
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Stefanik and different House Republicans hammered Shafik during Wednesday's House Education and the Workforce Committee proceeding to sermon pervasive antisemitism astatine the Ivy League school, demanding to cognize what consequences, if any, Professor Joseph Massad faced aft penning an nonfiction praising the Oct. 7 attacks successful confederate Israel by Hamas militants arsenic "awesome," "astonishing," "astounding" and "incredible."
Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., questions Columbia University president Nemat Shafik astatine the House Committee connected Education and the Workforce proceeding successful Washington, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., asserted that Massad's portion glorified Hamas' slaughter of astir 1,200 Jews.
Asked whether Massad faced immoderate disciplinary action, Shafik testified that the prof had been "spoken to" by the caput of his section of Middle Eastern, South Asian and African Studies and his dean. Though the assemblage president said she was had not been a portion of those discussions, Shafik said to Congress that Massad was told that the connection helium utilized successful his nonfiction "was unacceptable."
But Massad's statements to CNN aft the legislature proceeding contradicted Shafik's testimony.
"I was shown solidarity by my seat and deans based connected the decease threats that I received and the run targeting me," helium reportedly told CNN Thursday regarding anterior talks.
Columbia University President Nemat Shafik testifies earlier the House Committee connected Education and the Workforce, Wednesday, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
"No 1 has contacted maine astatine each from the assemblage with regards to my existent chairmanship," helium added, saying that the information that helium was nether probe by the schoolhouse was "news" helium learned done the hearing.
Fox News Digital reached retired to Columbia University for remark Friday but did not instantly perceive back.
Shafik initially testified that Massad was nary longer seat of the School of Arts and Sciences Academic Review Committee and that helium "does not person a enactment role," but Stefanik aboriginal challenged wherefore the tenured prof remained listed arsenic seat connected the university's website.
Shafik recanted, telling Congress that she needed to cheque whether Massad was inactive seat of the committee, which oversees the periodic reappraisal of each departments, centers and institutes astatine the school.
"You stated that Professor Massad was nary longer chair. Then you stated he’s nether investigation. He is inactive seat connected the website. So, has helium been terminated arsenic chair?" the congresswoman asked.
Police instrumentality information measures arsenic demonstrators stitchery extracurricular Columbia University to enactment the students' "Gaza Solidarity Encampment" demanding divestment from Israel successful New York City connected April 17, 2024. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Shafik said she wanted "to corroborate the facts earlier getting backmost to you," and Stefanik acknowledged that the assemblage president did corroborate that Massad was nether probe for alleged discrimination.
"Did you corroborate helium was inactive the chair?" Stefanik asked.
"I request to corroborate that with you. I privation to – I request to check," Shafik said.
Stefanik pressed, "Well, fto maine inquire you this: Will you marque the committedness to region him arsenic chair?
"I deliberation that would beryllium – I deliberation I would, yes. Let maine travel backmost with yes. But I deliberation I conscionable privation to corroborate his existent presumption earlier I reply," Shafik told the committee, to which Stefanik replied, "We’ll instrumentality that arsenic a yes, that you volition corroborate that helium volition nary longer beryllium chair."
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Massad reportedly told CNN connected Thursday that helium intends to stay a subordinate of the committee adjacent twelvemonth for a three-year term. CNN besides highlighted however Massad is an outgoing seat due to the fact that of word limits, meaning that helium would beryllium leaving the enactment relation successful a substance of weeks anyhow without immoderate disciplinary action.
Danielle Wallace is simply a newsman for Fox News Digital covering politics, crime, constabulary and more. Story tips tin beryllium sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and connected Twitter: @danimwallace.
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