On Friday, Christian social justice organization Sojourners CEO Jim Wallis and Rabbi Marc Schneier — president and co-founder of the Foundation for Ethnic Understanding — came to Ellison’s defense.

“Congressman Ellison has been one of our nation’s foremost leaders when it comes to interfaith understanding and cooperation. As a Christian and as an advocate for justice, I consider it an honor to call the Congressman both a friend and an ally,” Wallis said in a public statement.

Wallis continued: “Sean Hannity’s comments only serve to reveal the pundit’s own ignorance of interfaith issues and, as Congressman Ellison said, Hannity’s journalistic incompetence. The attacks on the Congressman only reveal Keith Ellison’s deeply held values and service to this country.”

Schneier called Ellison a “valued friend.”

“Congressman Ellison has been a valued friend to the American Jewish community. He has been a partner in strengthening Muslim Jewish relations. As an example, he was responsible for organizing the letter by Muslim Americans to Khaled Meshal, head of Hamas, in demanding the release of Gilad Shalit,” Schneier said in a public statement.