Orange County Rep. Loretta Sanchez, who was criticized by Muslim groups last year after a comment about Muslims' support for establishing a strict Islamic state, appears to have made amends. The Council on American-Islamic Relations California issued a co-endorsement in California’s U.S. Senate race for both Sanchez and her rival, fellow Democrat state Atty. Sanchez faced criticism after the San Bernardino terrorist attack in December when, during an interview with Larry King, she suggested that 5% to 20% of Muslims support a caliphate, a strict Islamic state. Joe Salas, president of the CAIR California's political action committee, which issued the co-endorsement, called Sanchez's comment about the caliphate "irresponsible and repugnant." But he said that Sanchez had a good record in Congress regarding protecting the civil rights of Muslims and other communities.

Source: Los Angeles Times October 21, 2016 23:06 UTC