The business dealings of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar’s husband are the latest flashpoint in the contest between Rep. Omar and her challenger former Minneapolis City Council member Don Samuels.
Mr. Samuels is running against Rep. Omar in the August 13 Democratic primary in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. On Thursday, he held a press conference to draw attention to a Minnesota Reformer investigative story that detailed the failed business ventures, and ensuing legal troubles of Messrs. William Hailer and Timothy Mynette, the latter being Rep. Omar’s husband.
Mr. Samuels called on Rep. Omar to address the issues highlighted in the Minnesota Reformer story, in particular, the lawsuit Mr. Mynette’s company is facing saying “we deserve honesty, transparency, and we deserve answers.”
He also accused Rep. Omar of going on foreign trips funded by foreign governments, an accusation the congresswoman has previously denied, most recently at the DFL endorsing convention during a question and answer session featuring the two candidates.
Mr. Samuels told reporters that Rep. Omar’s personal issues are becoming a distraction to the main issues facing the district.
“Representative Omar has used her time, three terms in Congress, what many would consider the honor of a lifetime, to divide our community and enrich herself,” Mr. Samuels said.
Mr. Samuels was asked why the business dealings of a candidate’s spouse should matter and he said “when the funds are from a family source, especially when they are from the public and then when the funds are deployed (and) are not reported.”
He pushed back against comparisons between Rep. Omar’s current situation and the FBI investigation of the PEACE Foundation that was headed by his wife, while he was a council member and running for mayor. Council members had feared he was using his influence to secure city funds for his wife’s foundation. At the time, he accused political opponents of being behind the FBI investigation, a claim he repeated on Tuesday and added that he was cleared by the FBI.
“I would like to see the FBI investigate and give Congresswoman Omar a letter of clearance that would be equal to that,” said Mr. Samuels, referencing his clearance by the FBI.
This is Mr. Samuel’s second attempt at ousting Rep. Omar after he narrowly lost to her in 2022. Rep. Omar’s campaign spokesperson Ms. Jackie Rogers, in an emailed response to Mshale when we sought a response, dismissed the Thursday presser as “politically motivated,” because Mr. Samuels campaign was “struggling to gain momentum.”
“Since Rep. Omar secured the DFL endorsement on the first ballot our campaign continues to see a groundswell of support and enthusiasm. Rep. Omar has no involvement in any business ventures. While our opponent is focused on a personal smear campaign, Congresswoman Omar’s campaign is focused on the issues that matter most to the voters of the Fifth District and improving their daily lives,” said Ms. Rogers.
Author
About Tom Gitaa Gitaa, Editor-in-Chief
Born and raised in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, Tom is the Founder, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of Mshale which has been reporting on the news and culture of African immigrants in the United States since 1995. He has a BA in Business from Metro State University and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He was the original host of Talking Drum, the signature current affairs show on the African Broadcasting Network (ABN-America), which was available nationwide in the United States via the Dish Network satellite service. On the show, he interviewed Nobel laureates such as 2004 Nobel Peace prize winner, Professor Wangari Maathai, the first woman from Africa to win the peace prize and heads of states. Tom has served and chaired various boards including Global Minnesota (formerly Minnesota International Center), the sixth largest World Affairs Council in the United States. He has previously served as the first Black President of the Board of Directors at Books for Africa. He also serves on the boards of New Vision Foundation and the Minnesota Multicultural Media Consortium. He has previously served two terms on the board of the United Nations Association. An avid runner, he retired from running full marathons after turning 50 and now only focuses on training for half marathons.
- Web |
- More Posts(403)
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading...
