A Palestinian-sympathizing gunman killed two Israeli embassy staffers near a Washington museum, triggering a GOP-led resolution that Democrats declined to support—while one of their own had previously honored the killer’s father.
At a Glance
- Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García honored Eric Rodriguez, whose son Elias is accused of murdering two Israeli diplomats
- Elias Rodriguez allegedly shouted “I did it for Palestine” during his arrest after the DC attack
- The victims were engaged Israeli nationals targeted near the Capital Jewish Museum
- Over 50 House Republicans signed a resolution condemning the murders; no Democrats joined
- The accused killer reportedly had links to a radical socialist organization
A Shocking Connection
The murders of Israeli diplomats Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky have ignited political tensions in Washington, not only due to the brutality of the attack but also because of the alleged connection between the accused killer and a prominent Democratic figure. Elias Rodriguez, who allegedly ambushed the couple outside the Capital Jewish Museum while shouting pro-Palestinian slogans, is the son of Eric Rodriguez—previously honored by Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García as a “model public servant.”
García had invited Eric Rodriguez as his guest to the 2025 State of the Union address, describing him as “representing the very best of our community.” But following Elias’s arrest on terrorism and murder charges, García’s office released a distancing statement, claiming they were unaware of the man’s family background.
Watch a report: Democrats Silent as GOP Condemns DC Terror.
Congressional Divide Over Condemnation
More than 50 Republican lawmakers swiftly backed a House resolution condemning the attack as a premeditated act of antisemitic terrorism. The resolution also honored the victims—Lischinsky, who was planning to propose during a Jerusalem trip, and Milgrim, whose life was cut short days before the planned engagement.
Yet, not a single Democrat co-signed the resolution. Rep. Addison McDowell, who led the effort, said the move was about more than mourning: “We can’t paper over the fact that this was not just antisemitism—it was carried out by someone part of an evil ideological movement.”
Critics have blasted Democrats for their silence, arguing it reflects broader discomfort within the party about confronting anti-Israel extremism among its activist base.
Ideological Underpinnings and Fallout
According to investigators, Elias Rodriguez had ties to the Party for Socialism and Liberation—a radical Marxist group with known anti-Israel positions and reported links to foreign influence. Authorities are reviewing a manifesto attributed to him filled with antisemitic rhetoric and references to “liberating Palestine by any means.”
While Rep. García later issued a brief statement saying he “strongly condemned the act of antisemitism and mourned the victims,” Republicans argue that’s too little, too late. “Words are hollow when your party refuses to even acknowledge what happened on the House floor,” said one GOP member.
As both parties brace for further fallout, the incident has crystallized the political and cultural fault lines around extremism, antisemitism, and accountability in a deeply polarized Congress.
