REPS LIEU, MENG, FITZPATRICK, MANNING, WEBER, VEASEY, GRANGER, AND SMITH CALL FOR UPDATE FROM STATE DEPARTMENT ON ITS INVESTIGATION INTO INSTANCES OF ANTISEMITISM AT THE AGENCY

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Reps. Ted Lieu (D-Los Angeles), Grace Meng (D-NY), Brain Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Randy Weber (R-TX), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Kay Granger (R-TX), and Chris Smith (R-NJ), all Co-Chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combatting Antisemitism, led a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting an update on the investigation into instances of antisemitism at the State Department.

The letter highlights three occurrences that have taken place over the past 21 months:

• In February of 2021, a State Department staffer was found to be running an antisemitic website and had been calling for the establishment of Christian nation-states for years.

• In July of 2021, a swastika was found in an elevator at the State Department's headquarters in Washington.

• And in February of this year, another swastika was found on a window shade at the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria.

"Antisemitism has absolutely no place within our government or anywhere else in the world," said Congressman Lieu. "I'm pleased to join my fellow co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism in urging the State Department to report to Congress on the status of its investigations into multiple antisemitic incidents at the Department. These egregious acts are deeply concerning, and I'm grateful to Secretary Blinken for immediately taking action and calling for an investigation. As antisemitism is on the rise, we must do more to protect the Jewish community. I look forward to the State Department's response."

"These instances of antisemitism at the State Department are unacceptable, and I thank Secretary Blinken for his commitment to conducting a thorough investigation," said Congresswoman Meng. "As recently as July of this year, the same employee who was found to be running an antisemitic website was still employed by the State Department, and has continued his antisemitic rhetoric. We must get to the bottom of these hateful acts. As a Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combatting Anti-Semitism and Vice Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations, it is not only my duty to call out all instances of antisemitism whenever they occur, but also to ensure that our State Department is free from this hateful rhetoric."

"As a co-chair of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, I strongly condemn the various antisemitic incidents that occurred at the State Department's headquarters," said Congressman Fitzpatrick. "We must know what steps are being taken to address these occurrences to ensure that future acts of hatred do not happen again."

"When a swastika was found in an elevator at the State Department, President Biden and Secretary Blinken unequivocally condemned this incident and made clear that there is no place for hate at the State Department or anywhere," said Congresswoman Kathy Manning. "We appreciate their strong commitment to fighting antisemitism and look forward to continuing working together to combat all hate in a united front."

"Antisemitism, hatred, and discrimination cannot be tolerated in the workplace, and the federal government has a special obligation to take a strong stand against such toxic and unacceptable workplace behavior as the nation's model employer," said American Federation of Government Employees President Everett Kelley. "But it is not enough merely to condemn antisemitism. Officials must go beyond words and take decisive action to root out this behavior and ensure all federal employees are able to serve their country in a safe, welcoming workplace where they are treated with dignity and respect without regard to individual difference."

"At a time when antisemitism is rising at home and around the world, it is troubling to see antisemitic incidents happening within the walls of the State Department, the United States' face to the world," said Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO and National Director of the Anti-Defamation League. "We welcome the statements made by President Biden and Secretary Blinken condemning these incidents and urge the internal review to continue and its progress to be shared. ADL stands ready to assist the State Department and other federal agencies as they work to ensure that Jewish American employees are fully included, supported, and protected in government service."

Data gathered by the Anti-Defamation League shows that antisemitism and antisemitic incidents have been on the rise, both in the U.S. and around the world. In order to accurately recommend how the department can proactively prevent such instances, an update on the investigations is needed.

A copy of the letter can be viewed here and below. It was signed by a total of 75 Members of Congress.

-------------------------------

Dear Secretary Blinken,

We write to express our continued concern over the antisemitic graffiti found at the State Department's headquarters in Washington, D.C. and at the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria, as well as reports of State Department staff espousing antisemitic views online. We are grateful that immediately following these incidents one year ago, you clearly expressed that these egregious acts are not representative of the State Department or its values and called for an immediate investigation. As the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL) data shows, antisemitism and antisemitic incidents are on the rise in the United States and around the world. This past year alone, ADL's Audit of Antisemitic Incidents recorded 2,717 acts of assault, vandalism, and harassment in the United States, an average of more than seven incidents per day. Given this marked increase in antisemitic incidents, we urge you to update Congress on the status of your investigation into these incidents. 

Last year, it was discovered that U.S. Foreign Service Officer Fritz Berggren was running a website where he regularly disparaged Jews. In July 2021, over 70 State Department employees sent you a letter expressing their concern and feelings of insecurity at Mr. Bergman's continued employment. As they said, "Not only is his propagation of antisemitic ideas highly disturbing and offensive to Jewish and non-Jewish employees alike, but as Jewish employees, we feel his presence at the Department is threatening." Despite these pleas from your employees, and his outrageous antisemitism and bigotry, Mr. Berggren remains employed by the State Department. This is beyond alarming.

Additionally, a swastika was found carved in an elevator at the Harry S. Truman building last summer, and another was found painted on a window inside a secure area of the U.S. Embassy in Bulgaria earlier this year. Together, these incidents appear to paint a troubling picture within the State Department. 

We appreciate the steps taken immediately by you and President Biden following these incidents to make clear that antisemitism has no place in the State Department, in the Biden Administration, or anywhere in the world. However, more can and must be done to protect the Jewish community, and other religious minorities, at the State Department. We understand and are grateful that an internal review of these incidents is underway. We urge you to continue to investigate and address any and all incidents of antisemitism and hate within the Department. 

The Fiscal Year 2023 U.S. House of Representatives' State and Foreign Operations Appropriations report included language requiring the State Department to report to Congress on the status of the investigations into these incidents, including recommendations for how the Department can improve tolerance and non-discrimination among its staff. However, this issue is too urgent, and it cannot wait for the appropriations process to finish. Instead, it needs immediate attention.

We call on you to report back to Congress on the status of your investigation into these incidents, and on the general existence of antisemitism within the State Department. We also call on you to report on what your office plans to do to improve tolerance and non-discrimination, including working with organizations like the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to institute targeted training and promote better understanding. State Department employees are our representatives to the world. We must ensure that hate, in all forms, is not present within the Department.

We stand ready to assist the State Department as you work to ensure that Jewish American employees are fully included, supported, and protected in government service.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.