Abby Phillip Grills George Latimer Over ‘Islamophobic’ Remarks Following Victory Over Jamaal Bowman

CNN host Abby Phillip grilled George Latimer over comments that were accused of being “Islamophobic” on Tuesday after he defeated Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) in the Democratic primary for New York’s 16th Congressional District.

Speaking to Latimer following his victory over Bowman on Tuesday evening, Phillip noted, “This is, as we’ve been saying, the most expensive House primary in the history of this country. $25 million poured into this New York district, more than $14 million from AIPAC.”

She then asked, “What do you say to some of your constituents who are concerned about that kind of money pouring into politics in this way?”

“Well, the first thing I can say, Abby, is I’ve been in public office for 35 years. I’ve held a variety of positions,” replied Latimer, who was endorsed by AIPAC, Pro-Israel America, and Democratic Majority For Israel. “I have never once changed a position based on a campaign donation, ever. Nobody’s ever accused me of that.”

He insisted, “I understand the national debate [on Israel and Palestine], but I think in this district, the national debate was secondary to the local discussion of who could best represent this district on domestic issues.”

Phillip then played the controversial clip of Latimer telling Bowman, “Your constituency is Dearborn, Michigan. Your constituency is San Francisco, California. It’s not Harrison. It’s not Tuckahoe.”

Latimer’s remarks were accused by Bowman and others of being “racist” and “Islamophobic” due to Dearborn’s high population of Muslims and immigrants from the Middle East.

“So there in that clip, you’re critiquing Jamaal Bowman for getting money from outside of the district from Dearborn, Michigan,” said Phillip. “That was viewed as, by Bowman, an Islamophobic dog whistle. Could you just address that, and also address how you can make that critique while also receiving money from outside of the district as well?”

Latimer claimed:

What I said was referring to where he had raised money from. It’s not a dog whistle of anything. He had a major fundraiser in California. He raised more money in California in the last report than he made from New York. So it wasn’t a dog whistle about California, and as far as Dearborn, Michigan is concerned, Representative Tlaib and the incumbent formed a joint fundraising committee on February 14th. She draws her money from her district and she’s based in Dearborn, Michigan. It’s a geographic reference, not a demographic reference.

He concluded, “Now, I understand that in order to try to advance his candidacy, the incumbent tried to turn it into something that it wasn’t, but the bottom line is, it is clear that he raised money more in proportion outside the district from a nationwide network of donors that included people from those locations and others. That’s a fact.”

Watch above via CNN.