BACKSTORY Robert Wexler was a Democratic member of the US House representing Florida's 19th congressional district, from 1997 until his resignation on January 3, 2010. Cong Wexler was instrumental in getting Turkey increased foreign aid to achieve Mideast Peace. Cong Wexler founded the Caucus on U.S.-Turkish Relations and served on the Congressional Study Group on Turkey.
In July 2008, it was revealed that Wexler claimed his mother-in-law's home in Delray Beach as his official residence (though he was listed on the House roll as "D-Boca Raton"), but lives in a Maryland suburb for most of the year.
Edward J. Lynch, a Republican running for Wexler's congressional seat, researched Wexler's living arrangements and took his argument to Fox News. "The house he lists on his voter registration is his in-laws' house, in a gated 55-and-older community," Lynch said. "Legally, he can't move back with children under 18." After Wexler was confronted about the allegation, he stated that his mother-in-law does own the house in Delray Beach. But he also said he stays there when in Florida which, according to his office is, on average, about twice a month.
As a putative Florida resident, Wexler did not pay personal income tax, and his vehicles were also registered in that state, despite his near-permanent residency in Maryland and the Washington metropolitan area.
Wexler, born in 1961, did not personally meet the age requirements for his mother-in-law's senior community. Wexler later obtained a separate address within Palm Beach County.
Throughout his tenure in Congress, Congressman Wexler has been an outspoken advocate for the unbreakable bond between the United States and Israel, and a leading proponent of Israel's right to self-defense and the need for a just and comprehensive resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict. He has traveled on numerous congressional delegations to the Middle East and met with the leaders of Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Kuwait, Turkey, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Morocco, and Oman.
At President Clinton's invitation, he was the only member of the House of Representatives present during the signing of the Wye River Peace Agreement. In addition, Wexler was one of two Congressmen to travel to the International Court of Justice at the Hague to oppose the Palestinian case against Israel's construction of a security barrier.
Congressman Wexler served as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Europe of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, and as a member of the Middle East Subcommittee. Wexler worked to strengthen the transatlantic alliance, build security and economic bonds with the European Union and the nations of Europe, and help guide the economic and political development of the former Soviet States.
Wexler was co-founder of the Caucus on U.S.-Turkish Relations, the Taiwan Caucus, and the Indonesia Caucus. He was also an active member of the India Caucus and the Serbia Caucus. In addition, Wexler served as a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property.
Wexler was an outspoken advocate of impeaching VP Cheney and Pres Bush.
During Wexler's 2008 campaign, Wexler agreed to receive JStreetPAC’s endorsement and financial support and lost funding from Washington PAC as a result. Morris Amitay, the head of Washington PAC, made clear to candidates seeking support from his PAC that he does not view favorably those who receive funds from JStreet. Amitay said “There’s a striking resemblance between the people they support and the anti-Israel Hall of Fame.”
