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.

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