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Lipstadt confirmed as anti-Semitism monitor

WASHINGTON — The Senate in a voice vote unanimously confirmed Deborah Lipstadt, the Holocaust scholar who endured delays and a contentious hearing in her nomination to be anti-Semitism monitor.

Deborah Lipstadt speaking at the Feb. 8, 2022 hearing. (Ron Kampeas)

The vote on March 30 took mere seconds.

The fact that none of Lipstadt’s erstwhile Republican critics demanded debate or a headcount — actions that could have further delayed her nomination — was in sharp contrast to the procedural maneuvers Republicans used for months to delay her confirmation.

Democrat Jon Ossoff introduced the motion to nominate Lipstadt in part because he represents Georgia, where Lipstadt teaches at Emory University.

Lipstadt is now the first anti-Semitism monitor to have the role of ambassador, under a law passed by Congress in 2020. This enhances her status overseas when she makes representations to foreign governments and allows her more direct access to the secretary of state and to the president should she believe a situation requires executive action.

The rank of ambassador required Senate confirmation subjected Lipstadt to scrutiny.

Her sharp past criticisms of former President Donald Trump, and particularly of Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, led to delays and a contentious hearing in February.

Only two Republicans on the Foreign Relations Committee joined Democrats last week in advancing the nomination.

A broad array of Jewish and pro-Israel groups advocated on behalf of Lipstadt.

Lipstadt, 75, has been for years an expert for the media and for legislators on Holocaust issues, particularly on how the genocide’s meaning should be understood in the 21st century, and whether it had any cognates among anti-democratic forces in the current day.




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