Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick removed commissioner Carrie Prejean Boller after a fraught hearing on antisemitism. He said she hijacked the session for a personal political agenda and that he made the decision solely on his own. Prejean Boller, a former Miss California turned conservative activist, rejected the charge. She stated that Patrick lacked the authority to remove her because only President Donald Trump can do so.
Defense of Candace Owens fuels fallout
Prejean Boller defended commentator Candace Owens and denied that Owens has made antisemitic remarks. She also argued critics should not label harsh Israel criticism as antisemitism. But witnesses warned that some figures hide antisemitism behind anti-Israel rhetoric, so context matters. Seth Dillon of The Babylon Bee urged conservatives to confront antisemitism on the right. He cited Owens’ comments about critics being “of the synagogue of Satan,” and he pushed Prejean Boller to review more statements.
Hearing testimony centers on campuses and Gaza protests
The hearing featured accounts from students and others who said universities failed to protect Jewish students. They pointed to pro-Palestinian protests during the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Supporters of the hearing said the commission must spotlight these safety fears and institutional blind spots. Detractors worried the debate could chill speech, and they warned against equating protest with bigotry.
Bible verse dispute and “Zionist agenda” claim intensify tensions
Prejean Boller questioned whether platforms should face pressure to ban a Bible verse that attributes Jesus’ death to Jews. Critics saw the exchange as a flashpoint because the verse has a history of stoking antisemitism. After her removal, she accused Patrick of advancing a “Zionist political agenda.” Patrick’s office framed the move as a response to conduct rather than ideology.
Commission faces fresh legal challenge over balance
The commission, created by Trump last year, plans to report to him this spring. This week, progressive faith groups sued in U.S. District Court in New York over the panel’s makeup. The Interfaith Alliance joined Muslim, Hindu, and Sikh organizations in the complaint. They said federal law requires balanced viewpoints, but the commission skews heavily toward conservative Christian viewpoints. They argued that framing America as strictly “Judeo-Christian” sidelines pluralism and fuels Christian nationalism.
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Member of Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission ousted in dispute over antisemitism
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