Chris Van Hollen Questions South Africa Ambassador Nominee on Genocide Claims and Apartheid Policy

Ambassador Nominee's Stance on Genocide Claims

• ❓ Senator Chris Van Hollen questioned Ambassador nominee Leo Brent Bozell regarding former President Trump's claim that the South African government was committing genocide against Afrikaners.
• 🗣️ Bozell stated he could not confirm if the State Department's legal adviser had concluded that genocide was occurring, and noted he is not a lawyer.
• 🌍 He shifted the conversation to the fear of Afrikaners and white South Africans, suggesting they should be eligible for refugee status in the U.S.

Refugee Policy and Racial Basis

• ⚖️ Van Hollen pressed Bozell on whether the U.S. should have a refugee admission policy based on race.
• 🚫 Bozell repeatedly avoided a direct yes or no answer, focusing instead on the situation in South Africa.
• 🇺🇸 Van Hollen expressed concern that the reported refugee cap and prioritization of white South Africans sounded like a race-based policy.

Stance on Anti-Apartheid Legislation

• 📜 Van Hollen recalled Bozell's past opposition to comprehensive anti-apartheid legislation and sanctions against South Africa in the 1980s.
• 🤝 Bozell explained that the conservative stance at the time was due to Nelson Mandela's alignment with the Soviet Union, which was seen as the primary threat to world peace.
• 🔄 He acknowledged an evolution in his views, stating that if asked today, he would express great respect for Nelson Mandela, especially after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
• 🏛️ Van Hollen highlighted Bozell's work with Senator Jesse Helms to object to a meeting with the ANC, contrasting it with the bipartisan support for sanctions that helped end apartheid.