House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-KY) claimed Wednesday that the Justice Department is investigating Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and members of her family.
Comer dropped the bombshell Wednesday during an appearance on conservative commentator Benny Johnson’s show. Johnson teed up the conversation by declaring that prosecuting Omar would be “the single greatest prosecution” of his lifetime before asking Comer whether he believed she had committed fraud.
“From everything that I’m reading and everything I’ve been told, Omar is one of those in the crosshairs,” Comer replied.
The MAGA lawmaker did not elaborate on any active criminal investigation. But he went on to claim that Justice Department officials told him the scrutiny extends beyond the Minnesota Democrat herself.
“I do know from the Blanche Department of Justice that they are investigating the entire Omar family,” Comer said Wednesday, adding that he believed "her husband committed fraud."
Comer also noted an inquiry his committee previously considered involving Omar’s financial disclosure forms and federal funding she sought for certain projects.
“You saw her financial disclosure form, and the discrepancy was on a winery in Minnesota and a couple of other projects where she had tried to get earmarks for things that would have benefited the Somali community that have already been identified as committing fraud in Minnesota,” the Trump ally said.
According to Comer, House rules prevented the Oversight Committee from pursuing the matter because investigations of sitting lawmakers fall under the House Ethics Committee. But Comer didn’t expect that committee to move quickly.
“Waiting on the Ethics Committee is like waiting on the U.S. Senate to do anything,” Comer said.
