Republican Congressman Calls Sebastian Gorka An ‘American Patriot’ — Despite Anti-Semitic Ties

Image by Trent Franks

By Nathan Guttman February 25, 2017

President Trump’s aide Sebastian Gorka, who according to the Forward’s expose has ties with anti-Semitic groups in Hungary, has at least one defender.

Republican Trent Frank, who is co-chair of the Congressional Israel Allies Caucus, issued a statement Saturday praising Gorka and pushing back against claims that he was associated with anti-Semitic neo-fascist politicians from the Hungarian right wing.

The Arizona congressman said he felt compelled to respond “with disgust” to what he described as an “attempt to libel this American patriot.”

Franks said that he has called upon Gorka’s expertise in counterterrorism many times and used his work in congress. “I can attest that Dr. Gorka is the staunchest friend of Israel and the Jewish people.” Franks praised Gorka for his “understands the existential threat that Global Jihadism poses” but did not offer any evidence to refute the reports on Gorka’s ties with the Hungarian groups.

Contact Nathan Guttman at [email protected]

Nathan Guttman, staff writer, was the Forward’s Washington bureau chief. He joined the staff in 2006 after serving for five years as Washington correspondent for the Israeli dailies Haaretz and The Jerusalem Post. In Israel, he was the features editor for Ha’aretz and chief editor of Channel 1 TV evening news. He was born in Canada and grew up in Israel. He is a graduate of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO