Rep. Ilhan Omar dismissed a reporter’s “stupid” questions and lashed out at efforts to allegedly “smear” her character following a Minneapolis event.
The Minnesota Democrat arrogantly played the victim Wednesday after refusing to answer a reporter’s questions about the latest allegations of an affair and misuse of campaign funds, taking to Twitter to claim “people can’t come to terms with my existence in Congress.”
(Video: KARE-TV/YouTube)
Omar dodged the questions coming in on the heels of a complaint filed with the Federal Election Commission that alleged she illegally used campaign funds to cover travel and other expenses for Washington, D.C. political consultant Tim Mynett, with whom she reportedly had an affair as revealed in a divorce filing on Tuesday.
Omar denies affair, FEC complaint filed over funds funneled to alleged married lover https://t.co/WKwqCT22sy
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) August 28, 2019
“The amount of energy and money people are spending to smear my character is alarming. It’s as if these people can’t come to terms with my existence in Congress. I wonder why?” Omar tweeted Wednesday.
? The amount of energy and money people are spending to smear my character is alarming.
It’s as if these people can’t come to terms with my existence in Congress.
I wonder why? https://t.co/g1ePuDlwFb
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) August 28, 2019
The freshman congresswoman was in Minnesota for a series of discussions and dodged questions about the allegations, getting up and leaving the room when asked after a talk on immigration Tuesday night at the Colin Powell Center, according to KARE-TV.
A reporter for the television station recounted his encounters with the Muslim lawmaker in a series of tweets:
Lou Raguse noted that Omar “did not address the allegations and then took a predictable dig at the press for ‘only wanting to cover shenanigans.'”
I’m at a public event that @IlhanMN is attending. We will see if she responds to allegations of improper payments relating to alleged affair. @kare story- https://t.co/iGCAXvtYDG
— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) August 28, 2019
@ilhan did not address the allegations and then took a predictable dig at the press for “only wanting to cover shenanigans” pic.twitter.com/8pHtkNEJ44
— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) August 28, 2019
@IlhanMN and her communications team has been making a point over the last week or more of listing congressional accomplishments. Possibly in response to narrative that her distractions outweigh accomplishments.
— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) August 28, 2019
@IlhanMN’s comment at the beginning of this round table on food insecurity was along those lines “it’s funny they say” she doesn’t do work — but then we show up while she is, and we “just want to talk about shenanigans”
— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) August 28, 2019
“It’s always fascinating. These media people say, ‘The congresswoman doesn’t focus on her work,’” Omar told those gathered for a roundtable discussion on food insecurity. “And then you’re here to do work and they will talk to you about some shenanigans and rumors that are online.”
She told reporters that they could “chase me all you want” but would not get her to comment, according to KMSP-TV.
Raguse reported that he followed the congresswoman out but she still dismissed his efforts to get a response.
No surprise, @IlhanMN dodged questions as I followed her out. When I asked why she’s dodging the questions, she said “Because they’re stupid questions.”
— Lou Raguse (@LouRaguse) August 28, 2019
Omar gave other reporters that same reception as WCCO-TV’s Esme Murphy reported the first-term congresswoman would not answer questions as she arrived at the roundtable, but noted she had “traded barbs” with reporters.
.@IlhanMN holds round table on food insecurity in N. Mpls. – she did not answer questions as she entered about her relationship with a political consultant that is cited in a DC divorce filing. Omar campaign paid consultant more than 200K according to FEC @wcco 6pm pic.twitter.com/5fiIuziTx4
— esme murphy (@esmemurphy) August 28, 2019
.@ilhanMn releases death threat she received for an appearance at Mn State Fair “you won’t die alone”, it said, before that Omar traded barbs with reporters
at a N Minneapolis meeting on food insecurity. Reporters were questioning her about allegations of an affair @wcco 6pm— esme murphy (@esmemurphy) August 28, 2019
KMSP-TV’s Theo Keith said he was “boxed” into a door by the lawmaker’s aide in order to block him from asking what she called “stupid” questions.
NEWS: U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar calls it “stupid” to be asking her about alleged misuse of campaign funds.
An aide later boxed me into a door to keep reporters away from Omar as she left an event at a north Minneapolis grocery store.
— Theo Keith (@TheoKeith) August 28, 2019
With more events scheduled in Minneapolis on Thursday, it seems Omar will not be able to stay clear of reporters confronting her about the allegations for long.
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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