House Democrat Blasts AIPAC as ‘Toxic To Democracy’ in Rare Rebuke of Israel Lobby Group

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) slammed the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in a stinging rebuke of the lobby group that wields outsized power in Congress.

AIPAC has been especially critical of members of Congress who oppose Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in the wake of the Oct. 7 terror attacks carried out by Hamas, which controls the territory. About 1,200 Israelis died and more than 200 were kidnapped, some of whom were released on Friday. Israel’s subsequent retaliation has resulted in the deaths of more than 14,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza officials.

Several Democratic members of Congress have called for Israel to cease its invasion. That has drawn the ire of AIPAC, which is reportedly gearing up to spend $100 million to back primary challengers to those members.

On Friday morning, Pocan took to social media to blast AIPAC, which endorsed more than 100 Republicans who supported former President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

“The truth,” he began. “@AIPAC is a conservative org, raising money from rich Republicans & tries to buy Democratic primaries with it. It distorts campaign finance law in the worst way. Their big money influence is toxic to democracy. Forget what they claim, look at their record. Toxic money.”

It wasn’t the first time Pocan put AIPAC on notice. Earlier this month, he made it clear he does not care for, or about, the organization.

“I don’t give a fuck about AIPAC—period,” he told Slate. “I think they’re a cancerous presence on our democracy and politics in general, and if I can be a surgeon, that’s great.”