Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN-05) campaign committee raked in an impressive $832,024 during her tumultuous first quarter as a member of Congress. Some of Omar’s donations to fellow Democrats, however, are being returned.
Dan McCready, a North Carolina Democrat currently running in a special election, announced on Twitter Wednesday that he had returned Omar’s $2,000 donation.
“Some folks are asking why I directed the return of Rep. Omar’s donation. I did this weeks ago because I vigorously disagree with any anti-Semitic comments,” he said. “Since this time, dangerous and hateful attacks have started against her. I condemn in the strongest terms the hateful rhetoric against her, the Muslim community and people of color.”
Some folks are asking why I directed the return of Rep. Omar’s donation. I did this weeks ago because I vigorously disagree with any anti-semitic comments. Since this time, dangerous and hateful attacks have started against her… (thread)
— Dan McCready for NC (@McCreadyForNC) April 18, 2019
The Washington Free Beacon later reported that Reps. Lucy McBath (D-GA-06) and Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05) failed to disclose large contributions from Omar’s campaign. After The Free Beacon’s report, McBath revealed that the contribution from Omar was not accepted, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Hayes’ campaign said the contribution from Omar would be listed in next quarter’s fundraising report, and noted it was “absolutely not” trying to hide the donation.
According to Omar’s filings with the Federal Election Commission, her campaign also donated $2,000 to Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and $1,000 to Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI-11). Omar, who may face a primary challenger in 2020, also transferred a total of $27,044 to her home state’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party.
The Free Beacon points out in a separate report that Omar actually saw a spike in donations after a February town hall event that brought on accusations of anti-Semitism from Republican opponents. In fact, the day after the event, Omar received $23,360 in donations, compared to the $24,331 she raised throughout the entire month of January.
Additionally, of the $417,000 in itemized contributions disclosed by Omar’s campaign, $400,000 came from out of state, The Star Tribune reports.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of Battleground State News, The Ohio Star, and The Minnesota Sun. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Dan McCready” by Dan McCready. Photo “Jahana Hayes by Jahana Hayes.
