By Jack Jenkins | Religion News Service
(WASHINGTON POST) (RNS) — A group of faith-based denominations and organizations is criticizing lawmakers for stalling votes on a high-level nomination by President Joe Biden, accusing Republican senators of “apparent anti-Muslim animus” for holding up the confirmation of what would be the highest-ranking Muslim American in the executive branch.
The controversy dates back to at least June 30, when Republican senators sent a letter to Sen. Ben Cardin, the Maryland Democrat who chairs the Senate small business committee, criticizing Dilawar Syed, Biden’s nominee for deputy administrator of the Small Business Administration. Syed served in former President Barack Obama’s White House and currently works as the CEO of a health care technology company.
The June letter was signed by eight of the 10 Republican senators on the committee — including Marco Rubio of Florida, Josh Hawley of Missouri and Tim Scott of South Carolina — and singled out Syed’s service as board member at Emgage Action, a Muslim American advocacy group. The senators accused Emgage of being “vocally anti-Israel,” citing its criticism of the country when violence broke out in the region in May. Lawmakers insisted on a second hearing to “ensure” Syed’s nomination “would not jeopardize small businesses with close ties to Israeli companies or small businesses owned by Jewish Americans.”