Republicans attack Ilhan Omar over false claims she denied 9/11 attackers were terrorists

It's only been a week since a man was arrested for making a death threat to Ilhan Omar, but Republicans continue to heap abuse on the Muslim congresswoman.

In a bizarre but disturbing development, Texas representative Dan Crenshaw spread false claims that Omar had denied the 9/11 attackers were terrorists, and that she had played down the severity of the atrocity.

He shared a tweet containing a video clip of Omar speaking about the consequences 9/11 had for Muslims across America.

The clip shows her saying:

"CAIR was founded after 9/11, because they recognised that some people did something, and all of us were starting to lose access to our civil liberties".

Crenshaw shared a hot take that took this simple statement to mean Omar didn't consider the attackers to be terrorists.

Never mind the fact that in the minute preceding this short clip, she used the word 'terrorism', Dan

The tweet he shared also denounces CAIR - the Council on American–Islamic Relations as a terrorist organisation. It's a civil rights group.

These inaccuracies didn't stop other Republicans from joining in the fun.

...or Fox News anchor Brian Kilmeade who questioned how American the congresswoman is during a broadcast.

“Really? ‘Some people did something?'” Kilmeade asked. “You have to wonder if she’s an American first.” Before later taking to Twitter to issue an apology.

If anything, they've simply proved her point that anti-Islam bigotry is more widespread in America than ever.

They were undoubtedly emboldened by the President's own actions.

Just one day after Omar's would-be killer was arrested, Donald Trump publicly mocked her saying "she doesn't like Israel".

Omar has been a target for Republicans ever since she joined congress - and became the first congresswoman ever to wear the hijab.

But she's not backing down.

She responded yesterday afternoon by saying:

“I hope leaders of both parties will join me in condemning it. My love and commitment to our country and that of my colleagues should never be in question. We are ALL Americans!”

“When you have people on Fox News question whether I am actually American or I put ‘America first,’ I expect my colleagues to also say, ‘That’s not OK’ and call that out.”

I took an oath to uphold the Constitution. I am as American as everyone else is.”

More: Muslims across the world celebrate as Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib make history in US Congress