Chuck Schumer advised Columbia leadership to ignore critiques of their handling of campus antisemitism, violence: House committee

A new report released by the US House Education and Workforce Committee following an investigation into the handling of anti-Israel protests this year on 11 college campuses stated Schumer advised then-Columbia University President Minouche Shafik that Democrats would look the other way on the violence on campus because the university’s “political problems are really only among Republicans.”

His staff told Columbia administrators that the “best strategy is to keep heads down.”

The committee also revealed that many administrations of Ivy League universities, including Columbia, Harvard University, Yale University, and Northwestern University made “an intentional decision” to remove language condemning the rape, torture, and execution of over 1,200 civilians and the kidnapping of 250 more, and remove references to Israeli hostages from any official statements following the atrocities.

Despite private emails and text messages having been among the documents reviewed by the committee, a spokesman for Schumer, Angelo Roefaro, said the report was “flat-out false.”

Roefaro told the New York Post, “Senator Schumer regularly and forcefully condemned antisemitic acts at Columbia and elsewhere saying ‘when protests shift to antisemitism, verbal abuse, intimidation, or glorification of Oct. 7 violence against Jewish people, that crosses the line.’ He conveyed this point publicly and to administrators privately. It’s worthy to note here that Republicans are citing words from someone who is not Chuck Schumer. That is called hearsay.”

The report added that Columbia trustees mocked the committee for reviewing their response to the antisemitism and violence on campus and texted each other about how they hoped Democrats would take control of Congress.

In texts with Board of Trustees co-chairs David Greenwald and Claire Shipman, Shafik said Schumer was “very positive and supportive (and quite the storyteller).” As a result, Columbia’s leadership felt empowered to avoid meetings with Republicans after Schumer and his staff said that discussions with GOP lawmakers weren’t necessary.

Following the Hamas atrocities on Israel, Jewish Columbia students were assaulted, spat on, stalked, had jewelry ripped off, were yelled at for supporting Israel, called racial slurs, and received death threats as antisemitism spread on campus, culminating in a violent Gaza camp that lasted for weeks, according to a disturbing report released by the university in August.

The pro-terror activists took over the university’s Hamilton Hall in April and trapped janitorial staff and others inside against their will. Over 100 people were arrested after police retook the building.

At the beginning of this school year, anti-Israel activists picked up where they left off by vandalizing the campus.

Republican US Senate candidate Mike Sapraicone told The Post, “The recent report from the House Committee on Education and the Workforce demonstrates how the Democrats speak out of both sides of their mouths. The reports of Sen. Schumer dismissing blatant violence and antisemitism are exactly why I’m running to replace his counterpart, who is just a rubber stamp. Election Day will prove that Americans won’t tolerate any longer.”