The House of Representatives is expected to vote on whether or not to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar over her alleged “Somali first” comments.
The privileged resolution was introduced in the House by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and will be brought up for a vote on either Monday or Tuesday.
If the resolution passes, the Minnesota Democrat would become the fourth member of Congress to be censured this term, following Democratic Reps. Jamaal Bowman (NY), Rashida Tlaib (Michigan) and Adam Schiff (Calif.).
According to a translation of a now-viral excerpt of remarks Omar made in Somali, she said her loyalty lies with Somalia rather than the United States
“We are an organized society, brothers and sisters, people of the same blood, people who know that they are Somalis first and Muslims second and protect each other,” Omar reportedly said.
The House of Representatives is expected to vote on whether or not to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar over her alleged “Somali first” comments
“I urge my colleagues to vote for a vote of no confidence, but I wish I had the votes to expel and deport them,” Greene wrote on X.
Last week, Whip Tom Emmer asked the Ethics Commission to investigate Omar over the comments, exclusively reported.
Omar claims that the translation is incorrect and that “propagandists” are twisting her words.
The clip was first shared by Somali Ambassador Rhoda Elmi, who called it “unseemly” and “lacking common decency.”
Somaliland is an unrecognized state that Somalia considers its own territory.
Omar, the first Somali-American in Congress, said in the clip that she would do everything in her power to prevent the disputed breakaway territory from reaching a maritime access agreement with Ethiopia.
“Sleep easy knowing that I am here to protect Somalia’s interests within the U.S. system,” Omar said, according to the widely circulated translated version of the video.
Omar reportedly said in her speech, “The US government will only do what the Somalis in the US ask them to do. 'They will do what we want and nothing else.'
“They must obey our orders and that is how we will protect Somalia’s interests,” she added. “We Somalis must have the confidence that we are in charge in the USA”
“Together we will protect Somalia’s interests,” she added.
“It's not just wrong, it's completely wrong,” Omar said of the captions in the clip shared by the Somali ambassador. “But I wouldn’t expect anything more from these propagandists.”
The privileged resolution was introduced in the House by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and will be brought up for a vote on either Monday or Tuesday
“The translation in the clip is correct, one word has been added for clarity and historical context,” Elmi told in response to Omar's criticism.
In one translation Omar claims to be more specific, saying she told her Somali voters who were concerned about the Somaliland-Ethiopia deal:
“The US government will do what we ask of them.” As Somalis, we should have this trust in ourselves. We live in this country. We are taxpayers in this country. “In this country, one of your daughters is in Congress.”
“As long as I’m in Congress, no one will take Somalia’s sea.”
“The United States will not support others in robbing us.” So don’t let that break your sleep, Minnesotans. “The lady you sent to Congress is concerned with this issue, and she is as aware of this interest as you are,” Omar continued, according to her preferred translation.
“Somalia belongs to all Somalis.” Somalia is one. We are brothers and sisters and our country will not be balkanized. Our land has been taken from us before, and God willing, we can strive for it one day.'
Omar has previously railed against U.S. lawmakers' so-called loyalty to a foreign country.
“I want to talk about the political influence in this country that says it's OK for people to push for loyalty to a foreign country,” the congresswoman said in 2019, suggesting that pro-Israel groups are being targeted by U.S. Lawmakers demanded loyalty.
In a post on X, she said of US lawmakers' strong support for Israel: “It's all about the Benjamin baby.”