MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama Holocaust Commission is condemning a congressman’s use of Adolf Hitler’s phrase “big lie” to describe allegations that President Donald Trump colluded with Russian operatives during the 2016 presidential election.

The Montgomery Advertiser reports the commission released a statement Wednesday criticizing north Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks’ use of the term, first employed by Hitler in “Mein Kampf” to blame Jewish people for the defeat of Germany in World War I. The Huntsville Republican used it in a March 25 speech in the U.S. House criticizing the collusion allegations.

The commission says “such facile comparisons, used in order to demean opponents and gain political capital, should be actively avoided.”

In an interview Thursday, Brooks stood by his characterization of history and questioned the commission’s political leanings.

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Information from: Montgomery Advertiser, http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com