Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) joined a Belgian politician known for anti-Muslim views for an hours-long dinner in July, CNN reported Thursday.
The politician, Filip DeWinter, told CNN’s KFile that the two had dinner after they both attended a London rally in support of a jailed anti-Islamic activist. The dinner was organized by former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon, according to CNN.
CNN noted that DeWinter has said Muslims don’t belong in Europe. In 2016, he tweeted praise of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump’s proposed ban of Muslims entering the United States, writing that the European Union should do the same.
{mosads}DeWinter and Gosar both attended a rally in July in support of Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. He is a founder of the anti-Muslim English Defense League, which has organized violent protests against Muslim immigrants.
Robinson was sentenced to 13 months in jail after being arrested for filming outside a courthouse where a child molestation case was taking place, which violated English law limiting publicity of criminal trials.
“I understand, like me, you’re all concerned about making your country great again,” Gosar, a supporter of President Trump, said at the rally.
“We know that these men are from, commonly, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Muslim backgrounds,” Gosar added, speaking of the molestation case that Robinson tried to film.
“What do we want? We want Tommy out,” Gosar said.