Fox News in a statement on Sunday condemned host Jeanine Pirro’s controversial comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).
Pirro set off a wave of backlash after the comments on her Saturday night show, “Justice with Judge Jeanine,” that appeared to suggest Omar is loyal to Sharia because she wears a hijab.
“We strongly condemn Jeanine Pirro’s comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar,” Fox News said. “They do not reflect those of the network and we have addressed the matter with her directly.”
{mosads}Pirro in her own statement also pushed back on the criticism and attempted to clarify her comments.
“I’ve seen a lot of comments about my opening statement from Saturday night’s show and I did not call Rep. Omar un-American,” Pirro said.
“My intention was to ask a question and start a debate, but of course because one is Muslim does not mean you don’t support the Constitution.”
Pirro added that she invites Omar “to come on my show any time to discuss all of the important issues facing America today.”
Critics in both parties have said that some of Omar’s remarks have pushed anti-Semitic tropes about “loyalty” to Israel.
In critiquing Omar on Saturday, Pirro argued that the lawmaker’s alleged “anti-Israel sentiment” did not come from the Democratic Party.
“Omar wears a hijab, which, according to the Quran 33:59, tells women to cover so they won’t get molested,” Pirro said.
“Is her adherence to this Islamic doctrine indicative of her adherence to Sharia law, which in itself is antithetical to the United States Constitution?” she asked.
Omar is one of the first two Muslim women in Congress and is the first lawmaker to wear a hijab.