California Dem hits Trump Jr. over claims of links to extremist groups

A California Democrat hit back at President Trump’s eldest son on Thursday after Donald Trump Jr. accused the candidate of links to extremist groups through the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim civil rights group.

Ammar Campa-Najjar, a Democrat running to replace Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), tweeted a picture of himself meeting then-candidate Donald Trump in 2015, questioning Trump Jr. whether he could explain why his father was meeting with a so-called “terrorist sympathizer” if the allegations were true.

{mosads}His tweet followed a message from Trump Jr. calling CAIR, which Campa-Najjar has donated to, a “radical Islamist group.”

“Hey @DonaldJTrumpJr, before retweeting @BreitbartNews charged allegations — might want to check with POTUS. I was given security clearance from the FBI in 2013 and met with @realDonaldTrump in 2015. Do you think your father met with a terrorist sympathizer? Doubt it,” responded Campa-Najjar.

CAIR has fended off allegations from right-wing organizations including Breitbart News in the past over its alleged affiliations with Hamas, the Palestinian militant group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. CAIR has repeatedly denied any affiliation with Hamas, and has condemned its terrorist activities.

Campa-Najjar’s race against Hunter received nationwide attention after Hunter was indicted earlier this year on charges of misusing about $250,000 in campaign funds, while vowing to remain in the race.