A legal group is calling for the Michigan Bar Association to investigate and possibly sanction U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib for her anti-Israel statements.
The Republican Jewish Coalition, which describes itself as “the only advocacy organization in America dedicated to furthering the interests of the Jewish community in the United States,” is urging the bar association to take action against Tlaib, who has previously declared her support for the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
In a statement, the group said that Tlaib’s “anti-Israel rhetoric and actions” are “unlawful and ethically inappropriate.” The organization argued that the bar association should “investigate and take appropriate disciplinary action” against Tlaib, citing a statute that prohibits lawyers from engaging in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit, or misrepresentation.
The group also claims that Tlaib has violated the state’s rule of professional responsibility, which requires lawyers to “exercise independent professional judgment and render candid advice.” The Republican Jewish Coalition argued that Tlaib has instead acted as an advocate for the BDS movement. Thus, the group believes that Tlaib should be sanctioned for her actions.
The Michigan Bar Association has yet to respond to the request. In the meantime, Tlaib has defended her stance, saying that she has “refused to back down on my principled stance in support of Palestinian human rights.”
While the future of the complaint against Tlaib remains unclear, it is an important reminder that lawyers must always be aware of their professional responsibilities. If the bar association elects to move forward with a potential discipline action, it could serve as a cautionary tale to other attorneys.