TX Dem under fire after saying she'd make ICE jail a "prison for American Zionists"

A Democratic House campaigner successful Texas is facing wide condemnation and accusations of antisemitism from some parties for comments she posted connected societal media, including a pledge to crook an migration detention installation into a "prison for American Zionists" if elected — drafting allegations from apical Democrats that her run whitethorn beryllium backed by blimpish groups.

Maureen Galindo is moving against Johnny Garcia successful adjacent week's Democratic superior for Texas' 35th Congressional District, which covers parts of San Antonio and the surrounding areas. Republicans are angling to prime up the seat, which is presently held by a Democrat but was made overmuch much favorable to the GOP successful Texas' redistricting effort past summer.

In an Instagram station past week, Galindo wrote that she volition "turn Karnes ICE Detention Center into a situation for American Zionists and erstwhile ICE officers for quality trafficking. (It volition besides beryllium a castration processing halfway for pedophiles which volition astir apt beryllium astir of the Zionists)." 

Galindo wrote successful the aforesaid station — referring to herself successful the 3rd idiosyncratic — that "when Maureen gets into Congress, she'll constitute authorities truthful that each Zionism and enactment of Zionism is undoubtedly Anti-Semitic, since it's Zionists harming the Semites."

Her societal media provender besides includes attacks connected "billionaire Zionists," and a suggestion that "Zionist associated candidates and politicians" merit "treason trials." 

Galindo has denied that she is antisemitic, instead saying she is opposed to "Zionist Jews."

The comments person drawn stiff disapproval from Texas Democrats, with Garcia calling them "conspiracy theories and hateful rhetoric" and gubernatorial campaigner James Talarico telling the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that helium would not run with Galindo. 

Republican Carlos De La Cruz, who is facing disconnected against authorities Rep. John Lujan successful the GOP primary, wrote connected X: "This rhetoric is disgusting and has nary spot successful Texas."

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington, who chairs the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said successful a connection that Galindo's comments were "extremely dangerous" and "vile," and person "no spot successful Democratic politics."

Many Democrats person besides alleged that Galindo has been propped up by blimpish funders. They constituent to Lead Left PAC, a governmental enactment committee founded little than a period agone that has reported much than $800,000 successful pro-Galindo and anti-Garcia spending, according to recent Federal Election Commission filings.

Lead Left PAC identifies itself arsenic an anti-Trump organization, and its donors are not public. But Punchbowl News reported earlier this month that its website contained metadata linking it to WinRed, a integer fundraising level utilized by Republican candidates and GOP-aligned groups. The New York Times besides raised questions astir whether Lead Left PAC is linked to Republicans. (CBS News has not independently confirmed that reporting.)

"House Republican enactment indispensable instantly cease propping up this antisemitic candidacy, propulsion spending successful the contention and forcefully condemn these comments," Jeffries and DelBene said successful their connection condemning Galindo's comments.

Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York called Galindo's comments "bigoted garbage and antisemitism" — and wrote successful a station connected X that "the donors down the Republican ace PAC backing her should beryllium exposed."

Asked astir allegations that Republicans person backed Galindo, House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters Wednesday: "Of people not. I didn't adjacent cognize this idiosyncratic existed."

"I don't cognize thing astir it, but that these brainsick comments surfaced yesterday, and a fig of radical sent it to me, and I thought this is simply a cleanable illustration of wherever the Democratic Party is going," helium said. "We accidental each the time: This is not your father's Democratic Party."

Both Democratic and Republican operatives are often accused of intervening successful each other's primaries, aiming to prop up fringe candidates they presumption arsenic easier to defeat.

CBS News has reached retired to Galinda's run and to Lead Left PAC for comment.

Galindo, a enactment therapist, and Garcia, a erstwhile sheriff's deputy, precocious to adjacent week's Democratic superior runoff aft nary campaigner won 50% of the ballot successful the archetypal circular of the primaries. The Republican runoff candidates are De La Cruz, a tiny concern proprietor and Air Force veteran, and Lujan, a authorities lawmaker and erstwhile sheriff's deputy.

President Trump and Johnson have endorsed De La Cruz, whose sister presently represents different U.S. House district.

The 35th District is presently represented by Democratic Rep. Greg Casar, but Texas' redistricting run dramatically changed the district's boundaries, transforming it from a deep-blue spot that stretches from Austin to San Antonio to a reddish spot that juts southbound and westbound of San Antonio. Casar is this year's Democratic nominee successful the Austin-area 37th District.