The full House has adopted a Rep. Randy Fine nonbinding House resolution (HR 1209) strongly encouraging "all executive agencies of the State of Florida, all law enforcement agencies, and all local governments in this state to suspend contact and outreach activities" with the Council for American Islamic Relations (CAIR).
The Brevard County Republican called the group a "PR front for Hamas" in introductory remarks, noting that alleged tendency predated the terror group's October 2023 attacks on Israeli citizens.
The resolution had one committee stop before the House floor, where it had little trouble advancing.
Fine's filing cites decades of actions involving CAIR principals that could be considered supportive of anti-American aims.
That includes recent imbroglios ranging from CAIR Florida featuring disgraced former Professor and Jihadist Sami Al-Arian in a Speaker Series, as well as quotes from national leaders likening Israel to Nazi Germany and justifying Hamas attacks against Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, as a move to "break the siege, the walls of the concentration camp" of Gaza.
The vote was a foregone conclusion, but a group of Democrats took issue with the nonbinding measure.
Asked about "vetting" of the allegations in the resolution, Fine referred Rep. Christopher Benjamin to the "internet." That didn't mollify the Hollywood Democrat, who asked for "fact checking."
In structured debate, Benjamin continued to question Fine's filing, noting that on Sept. 11, 2001, he noticed hatred toward his fellow Muslims, with Arabs taking the worst of it.
"I stood outside the mosque every night," he said, worried about violence that didn't happen where he worshiped, but did happen at others in his area. And CAIR was a rare ally in those turbulent times, he said.
"There has been no evidence that CAIR has been linked to terrorism," Benjamin added.
Fine accused Benjamin of "gaslighting," contending that for three decades CAIR had been linked with Hamas.
Benjamin was one of 15 "no" votes, against 98 in favor of the resolution.
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