Sen. Hawley Leftist Attorney’s Views on Jewish Student Safety [WATCH]

During a Senate committee hearing on Thursday, Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) sharply criticized Kenneth S. Stern, an attorney and the director of the Bard Center for the Study of Hate, for comments he made on NPR regarding the Trump administration’s actions toward Columbia University.

Stern had previously claimed that the removal of federal grants from the university and the cancellation of Mahmoud Khalil’s visa made Jewish students “less safe.”

Hawley began by questioning Stern on his recent statements, in which he referred to the Trump administration’s decision to revoke Columbia University’s federal grants over its handling of anti-Israel riots as “McCarthyism” and argued it placed Jewish students at risk.

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The senator focused on Khalil, a pro-Hamas activist and Columbia student, who is facing accusations related to terrorist activity and violence against Jewish students.

He pressed Stern on whether he still believed that such actions, which include the Trump administration’s investigation into Khalil’s background, were detrimental to Jewish students’ safety.

“Five or six days ago, you gave an interview in which you said that the removal of Mahmoud Khalil, the pro-Hamas foreign rioter, is a form of McCarthyism and makes Jewish students less safe,” Hawley said.

“Now this is an individual who has been accused of endorsing and espousing terrorist activity, who has been accused of lying on his green card application in the U.S., who is currently being sued for terrorizing and assaulting Jewish students. Do you still believe this?”

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Stern attempted to respond, emphasizing the importance of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and due process in handling complaints.

He argued that issues should be addressed through proper channels rather than threatening universities’ funding. However, Hawley interrupted to make his position clear.

“I just want to get this on the record: You are opposed to investigating Columbia University and others for antisemitism?” Hawley demanded.

“No,” Stern replied.

“That’s what you said, six days ago,” Hawley shot back.

“I am not opposed to doing it the right way,” Stern clarified, but Hawley pressed him further.

The Missouri senator also addressed Stern’s earlier remarks about the investigation into antisemitism, pointing out that Stern had accused the Department of Justice’s investigation of “weaponizing antisemitism” and making students less safe.

Stern reiterated his concerns, agreeing that the Department of Justice’s targeted investigation would indeed be seen as weaponizing the issue.

The heated exchange also involved Massachusetts Senator Edward Markey, a Democrat, who had earlier spoken out against using authoritarian tactics to combat antisemitism.

Markey warned that allowing such actions would undermine freedoms and pave the way for authoritarianism. Hawley quickly dismissed Markey’s remarks as “insane.”

“I heard his whole speech. I thought it was insane,” Hawley responded.

“I just want to say, for the record, I thought it was totally insane. And I think your positions are similarly insane. I think the idea that we would bend over backwards to hug and kiss and make nice to a pro-Hamas rioter, because that’s what Khalil is, and that we would say, ‘Heavens, we have, we can’t remove him.’ And that makes Jewish students less safe on our campuses? That’s nuts.”

The controversy surrounding Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University student and anti-Israel activist, has been escalating.

Khalil is accused by the Trump administration of failing to disclose his employment history on his green card application.

Specifically, he allegedly omitted his role as a “political affairs officer” with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees and his extended position with the Syria Office at the British Embassy in Beirut.

As a result, the administration has moved to revoke Khalil’s visa.

Additionally, the Trump administration pulled $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University, citing its inadequate response to anti-Israel campus riots.

In response, the university announced significant changes to its student policies on Friday to comply with the Trump administration’s demands.

This series of actions has sparked legal challenges from several Ivy League students holding visas or green cards.

They have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, alleging violations of their First Amendment rights.

The ongoing legal battles and political disagreements surrounding these issues underscore the continued tension between government actions, university policies, and the protection of Jewish students on U.S. campuses.

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