Rep. Ilhan Omar ordered to pay fine for campaign finance violation
Photo: Facebook.com/IlhanMN
ST. PAUL, Minn. (FOX 9) - U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar must personally pay a $500 civil fine to the state for violating a campaign finance law, the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board ordered Thursday.
In addition, Omar must reimburse her political campaign $3,469 for improperly used campaign funds, the board said in its decision.
Five times, Omar’s campaign improperly paid hotel or travel expenses for Omar to attend out-of-state events in 2017, the board found. In other cases, the board found Omar’s campaign had paid for Omar’s immigration records and two years of tax returns without justifying their benefit to her campaign.
Omar’s campaign account was tied to her successful 2016 bid for Minnesota House. She served one term before being elected to Congress in 2018.
The findings are a result of an investigation launched in July 2018 following complaints filed by state Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa.
Omar, in an emailed statement, said she would comply with the board’s findings, which also require her to re-file a 2016 campaign finance report.
“I’m glad this process is complete and that the Campaign Finance Board has come to a resolution on this matter,” Omar said in the statement.
Omar said she planned to close the account associated with her 2016 Minnesota House race and would distribute the funds to organizations that train first-time candidates to run for office.