US Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has been hit with an ethics complaint by the American Accountability Foundation (AAF), a conservative watchdog group, for hosting an event with former Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire. Last weekend, Khaire appeared with Omar to support her reelection campaign. AAF argued that Khaire’s involvement at Omar’s campaign rally violated the US Federal Election Campaign Act and called for the congresswoman to step down.
“We are deeply concerned by Ilhan Omar’s illegal campaign rally with the former prime minister of Somalia. Omar already has a long history of statements indicating her disdain for America and allegiance to Somalia, but this goes beyond statements,” AAF stated. “Now her campaign has taken action to involve a foreign leader in an American election. She must resign immediately and return every dollar raised for her at this disgraceful rally.”
The organization contended that Omar potentially violated two aspects of the Federal Election Campaign Act. First, AAF alleged that the congresswoman “knowingly accepted former Somalia Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire’s services at her campaign events,” exceeding the “limited volunteer services permitted by a foreign national and involves impermissible decision-making.” Second, the watchdog claimed that Khaire was possibly “compensated by a prohibited source,” suggesting that Ka Joog, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit focused on empowering Somali American youth, organized and funded Khaire’s trip to America. AAF argued that Omar likely “knowingly accepted a corporate contribution associated with Mr. Khaire’s travel and lodging costs” to boost voter turnout among Minnesota’s Somali-American community.
During Omar’s campaign rally, Khaire delivered an impassioned speech urging the audience to support the congresswoman. “Support her with your votes, tell your neighbors and friends, and anyone you know to come out and support Ilhan Omar,” Khaire said. “And knock on every door you can so that she can be re-elected.” He added, “Ilhan’s interests aren’t those of Minnesota or the American people but those of Somalia.”
AAF president Thomas Jones wrote, “No one is above the law — even members of the Squad of far-left lawmakers in the US House. Not only were Khaire’s comments about Omar deeply disturbing, but the rally was also a blatant violation of US election laws. Omar must resign immediately and return every dollar raised by Khaire for her campaign.”
Omar’s campaign counsel David Mitrani denied any violations of election laws. “This ethics complaint is another attempt by the far-right to smear the congresswoman,” Mitrani told the New York Post. “Congresswoman Omar’s campaign had absolutely no involvement in requesting, coordinating, or facilitating Mr. Khaire’s appearance or his comments, and accordingly, there was no violation of law.”
Khaire’s claim that Omar’s “interests” are with Somalia rather than the American people raised concerns, with critics recalling her previous criticisms of the American Jewish community for allegedly maintaining “allegiance” to Israel. “I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it is OK for people to push for allegiance to a foreign country,” Omar said in a 2019 speech referring to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
“Accusing Jews of harboring dual loyalty has a long, violent, sordid history,” said Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, in response to Omar’s comments.
Throughout her five-year tenure as a US representative, Omar has been a vocal critic of Israel, accusing it of “apartheid” and “ethnic cleansing” against Palestinians and supporting the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel.
The congresswoman faced criticism after delaying her response to Hamas’ October 7th attacks, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths in southern Israel. Despite her slow condemnation of Hamas, she was one of the first to call for Israel to implement a “ceasefire” in Gaza. Omar also sparked outrage from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers when she referred to Jewish college students as being either “pro-genocide or anti-genocide” during a visit to Columbia University in April.
