Over the last week freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has come under fire for comments she made about September 11th, specifically about how "some people did something," and her inability to call those "people" terrorists. She's also been repeatedly condemned for her anti-semitic comments. Now it looks as though even her fellow Democrats are doing whatever they can to distance themselves from her.
When Omar's campaign attempted to donate $2,000 to her colleague, freshman Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA), McBath's campaign rejected the funds.
McBath's campaign attempted to keep the transaction quiet but the Washington Free Beacon pressed them on the issue. The conservative outlet reported about the donation Omar's campaign made to McBath but noticed it wasn't on McBath's Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings.
"Our report is accurate," McBath's campaign told the Free Beacon but didn't explain any further.
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Omar did make the contribution to McBath but it was not accepted.
Up in D.C., the conservative Free Beacon has pointed to a $2,000 campaign contribution that U.S. Rep. Illhan Omar, D-Minn., reported making to fellow freshman Democrat Lucy McBath of Marietta.
The website noted that McBath did not report the contribution – which is true. The McBath campaign told us this morning that the contribution was not accepted.
Omar is one of two Muslim lawmakers elected to Congress in 2018. She has recently been criticized by Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who allege she recently spoke too lightly of 9/11 during a speech last month. She has also made remarks interpreted by many as anti-Semitic.
McBath’s rejection of the donation is more important than it may sound. The Sixth District has a significant Jewish population – particularly in Sandy Springs and east Cobb County.
McBath accepted a $2,000 campaign contribution from Omar last year, although that money has not been returned.
Right now, Omar is one of the top Democratic fundraisers. In quarter one, she raised $832,000, even though she made numerous anti-Semitic comments.
It will be interesting to watch and see how Democrats deal with Omar's campaign contributions. Will they take the money, as insignificant as it may be in the grand scheme of things, or will they follow McBath's lead and distance themselves from the anti-Semitic Congresswoman?