By AMANDA PRESTIGIACOMO
Sinclair reporter James Rosen confirmed Monday morning that authorities recently completed investigations into two complaints concerning campaign finance violations against Democrat Rep. Ilhan Omar.
The two complaints against the controversial figure were filed last year by Minnesota state lawmaker Rep. Steve Drazkowski, a Republican. Drazkowski claims Omar spent thousands of dollars on a divorce attorney and personal travel expenses.
“In referring Omar to the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board, Drazkowski alleged that Omar improperly spent close to $6,000 in campaign funds for personal use, including payments to her divorce attorney and for travel to Boston and Estonia,” says the report.
Rosen notes that Drazkowski’s filings follow “an earlier episode in which Omar repaid $2,500 for honoraria she received for speeches at colleges that receive state funding, a violation of ethics rules for Minnesota lawmakers.”
“I had observed a long pattern,” said Drazkowski. “Representative Omar hasn’t followed the law. She’s repeatedly trampled on the laws of the state in a variety of areas, and gotten by with it.”
The Republican lawmaker maintained that Omar has been allowed to skate in the face of her controversial actions by strategically using her identity as a shield.
“There’s a political fear that people have of being called a name, being called a bigot, being called racist, being called Islamophobic,” he said.
When Omar was questioned about the probe into the alleged finance violations on Thursday, she refused to respond. Earlier this year, the Democrat denied the alleged indiscretions, though the complaints were still unconfirmed to the public at the time.
“The Omar Committee’s 2017 year-end report shows several noncampaign disbursements for out-of-state travel for Rep. Omar to attend various events,” reads a notification allegedly from the finance board posted on Drazkowski’s website.
“The information on the committee’s 2017 year-end report does not indicate how attendance at these events would have helped Rep. Omar in the performance of her legislative duties,” another notification says.
The results of the investigations are expected to soon be released, Sinclair reports.
Despite her many controversies, Omar has become a key figure for the Democrat Party.
The Democrat has found herself under fire on more than one occasion for past and present comments she’s made about Jews and Israel. In March, for example, Omar suggested Jewish Americans have “dual loyalty” after she was criticized for past comments perceived as anti-Semitic.
“Lawmakers must be able to debate w/o prejudice or bigotry. I am saddened that Rep. Omar continues to mischaracterize support for Israel. I urge her to retract this statement and engage in further dialogue with the Jewish community on why these comments are so hurtful,” said Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), who is Jewish.
“Our democracy is built on debate, Congresswoman!” Omar responded on Twitter. “I should not be expected to have allegiance/pledge support to a foreign country in order to serve my country in Congress or serve on committee. The people of the 5th elected me to serve their interest. I am sure we agree on that!”
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