A new report published Thursday suggests that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN-05) would not be granted security clearance if she weren’t an elected official because of her ties to those in the highest echelons of Somalia’s government.
According to an investigative report from PJ Media, Omar visited with former Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Mogadishu prior to her 2016 election to the Minnesota House. It’s likely she also met with Somalia’s new president, Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, whose election was called “one of the most fraudulent political events in Somalia’s history.”
Omar’s brother-in-law, Mohamed Keynan, later worked under his administration as a permanent secretary to the prime minister, a position he occupied for 14 months. PJ Media’s David Steinberg uncovered the close familial relationship Omar and Keynan share, reporting:
A long-time resident of Minneapolis, MN, and Columbus, OH, Mohamed Keynan is married to Ilhan Omar’s sister, Sahra Noor. Sahra, who arrived in the United States with Ilhan in 1995, bears the distinction of being the only one of Ilhan Omar’s seven siblings whom Ilhan has ever identified or openly appeared with in public.
Sahra and Ilhan have been frequently photographed together over the years, and have often appeared together with their father, Nur Said Elmi Mohamed.
Address records show that Ilhan and Sahra have lived together at multiple residences. One St. Paul, MN, address is recorded as a residence for Ilhan, Sahra, Nur Said, and also Mohamed Keynan.
As a member of Congress, Omar isn’t required to complete the security clearance process, but is rather granted clearance upon being sworn into office. Attorney Sean Bigley, a partner at Bigley Ranish LLP, which specializes in representing government officials whom have been wrongfully denied security clearances, said Omar’s connections to the Somali government would be a significant issue.
“High-level familial connections in the Somali government would be an almost guaranteed ticket to the unemployment line for any government employee who requires security clearance as a condition of employment,” he said. “Members of Congress don’t need a security clearance to view classified information, but that perhaps makes this all the more alarming and a potentially serious national security risk.”
“There are a lot of unanswered questions here. I think Americans ought to rightfully be concerned,” he added.
Omar was recently granted a seat on the U.S. House’s powerful Foreign Affairs Committee, meaning she likely will have access to countless amounts of classified information. Her appointment was widely condemned by Republican leadership.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Ilhan Omar” by Ilhan Omar.
