Two Bay Area congressman sued by anti-war constituents over aid to Israel
U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson and fellow Democrat Rep. Jared Huffman were sued in federal court in San Francisco this week by Bay Area constituents alleging their votes in support of military aid for Israel last April supported genocide.
The complaint alleged the votes violated the constitutional rights of constituents by using their taxes “for the unlawful purpose of complicity in genocide.” The Israel Security Supplemental Appropriations Act allocated $26.38 billion for military aid to Israel, with 366 members voting in favor, 58 opposed, and seven abstaining.
The plaintiffs contend that the votes violated their rights as taxpayers.
“By voting the way (Mike Thompson) did to supply Israel with money and weapons, he has made me complicit in the killing of my own people and the destruction of my homeland,” said plaintiff Tarik Sharif Kanaana in a news conference in front of of a banner proclaiming “NO TAXES FOR GENOCIDE.”
“Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights to have their taxes collected for only lawful purposes have been and continue to be violated by defendants’ votes to use plaintiffs’ taxes for the unlawful purpose of being complicit in genocide,” the complaint reads.
Specifically, the lawsuit alleges the April vote violated the Leahy Law, which prohibit the U.S. Government from using funds assisting foreign forces “where there is credible information implicating that unit in the commission of gross violations of human rights,” along with the 1987 Genocide Convention Implementation Act, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Conventional Arms Transfer policy. It also cites international rulings on recent human rights abuses by Israel.
The plaintiffs cited symptoms they say they suffer as a result of the congress members’ action including bouts of uncontrollable weeping, inability to sleep, distractions from work, despair for the future of their children and humanity, inability to experience joy, feelings of guilt, social isolation and anxiety.
Asked for comment, a spokesperson for Thompson’s office issued the following statement:
“Congressman Thompson understands that it has been the civilian population that has paid the cost of Hamas’ terrorist attack on Israel and he remains gravely concerned about the scale of civilian loss in this war. That’s why he has advocated and continues to advocate for the Biden Administration to work with the State Department and our allies to help secure a negotiated bilateral ceasefire, the immediate release of all hostages, and the establishment of a two-state solution to ensure peace and self-determination for the Palestinian and Israeli people. Achieving peace and securing the safety of civilians won’t be accomplished by filing a lawsuit.”