Ilhan Omar and MN campaign finance ruling

[Anonymous]

Four pages of minutiae and outrage on this woman’s complicated personal life. Whatever the facts are, it sounds like she is subject to a maximum penalty of $4,000. Excuse me if I can’t get excited about this while the grifter in chief just wasted a million dollars on four limousines in London for his extensive entourage - who weren’t even invited. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If this is the level of scrutiny that all of Trump’s enemies will be getting, then it’s going to be a long campaign season.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Four pages of minutiae and outrage on this woman’s complicated personal life. Whatever the facts are, it sounds like she is subject to a maximum penalty of $4,000. Excuse me if I can’t get excited about this while the grifter in chief just wasted a million dollars on four limousines in London for his extensive entourage - who weren’t even invited. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. If this is the level of scrutiny that all of Trump’s enemies will be getting, then it’s going to be a long campaign season.

I don't excuse any behavior - whether it's connected to a peon like Omar or our national leader. Two wrongs don't make a right.

[Anonymous]

Perhaps her constituents will be able to get an answer from her.

When it comes to the issue of filing joint married tax returns with one man while legally married to another, the only statement the Minnesota congresswoman has made is through a campaign spokesperson.

“All of Rep. Omar’s tax filings are fully compliant with all applicable tax law,” the spokesperson said.

Below is a timeline of Omar’s personal relationships as well as the Campaign Finance Board documents.

Early 2000s: Omar and Ahmed Hirsi had two children but never married
2009: Omar legally married another man, Ahmed Elmi
2011: Omar and Elmi obtained a faith-based divorce, but no legal divorce
2012: Omar reconciles with Hirsi and the couple had a third child
2014, 2015: Omar and Hirsi file joint married returns
2016: Omar’s attorney and accountants find “something needs to be corrected” in Omar’s filings
2017: Omar files for divorce from Elmi
2018: Omar legally marries Hirsi
Omar’s staff did not comment when asked if the correction needed in 2016 in Omar’s filings was her marital status.

Scott Kadrlik, a CPA who has no connection to Omar, says the IRS keeps every tax return open for three years and during that time accepts changes or corrections.

“There can be a whole host of reasons you would file an amended tax return – a correction to your tax return, incorrect filing status, claimed the wrong exemptions, didn’t report all of your income,” Kadrlik said.

https://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2019/06/10/ilhan-omar-personal-tax-returns-controversy/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would love to know what "faith tradition" means.
As a Congresswoman, she has to know we have laws in the US. Laws that are different from where she came.

Does she not realize that there is a LEGAL marriage and a LEGAL divorce in this country?

As well as common law marriages, which can be in a faith tradition, in many states. I thought Rs liked states deciding these things?

[Anonymous]

The AP has provided some good questions and answers around this situation........

Minnesota campaign finance officials said last week that U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar misused campaign funds in violation of state rules. They also revealed that she had filed joint tax returns with her husband years before they were legally married and at a time when she was married to another man.

The revelation put the freshman representative under more scrutiny from critics who have taken issue with her marital past. One tax expert said that if there is no criminal intent and the issue has been corrected, she’s unlikely to face any criminal consequences.

Some questions and answers about the tax issue:

Q: What did Omar do wrong?

A: The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board said Thursday that Omar and her husband, Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi, filed joint tax returns for 2014 and 2015 — before they were actually married and while Omar was legally wed to another man. While some states allow for joint filing for “common law” marriages, Minnesota does not, and filing joint tax returns with someone who is not your legal spouse is against both federal and state law.

Q: What has Omar said about this?

A: Very little. In response to questions from The Associated Press, her campaign sent an emailed statement saying, “All of Rep. Omar’s tax filings are fully compliant with all applicable tax law.” The campaign did not make Omar available for an interview or answer specific questions from the AP. In response to the overall campaign finance investigation, she said in a statement last week that she will comply with the state board findings calling for her to repay money and pay a penalty.

https://www.apnews.com/b49ee5604ec2435a90945820b7c973eb

[Anonymous]

This looks bad. Though I’m waiting for a legimate new source to pick it up before I write her off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This looks bad. Though I’m waiting for a legimate new source to pick it up before I write her off.

If you are waiting for the WaPo or the NY Times, don't hold your breath. Remember that media bias isn't only about things that are printed, but what they choose NOT to report on.

The Hill, the MN Star Tribune, a local MN CBS affiliate, and other local and national outlets are covering this story.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This looks bad. Though I’m waiting for a legimate new source to pick it up before I write her off.

If you are waiting for the WaPo or the NY Times, don't hold your breath. Remember that media bias isn't only about things that are printed, but what they choose NOT to report on.

The Hill, the MN Star Tribune, a local MN CBS affiliate, and other local and national outlets are covering this story.

+1.

Bias can be more subtle too. Anything that reflect bad on Dems, you run exactly ONE story. Anything that reflects bad on Trump or the GOP, you ran a HUNDRED stories and OpEds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Married to one man while filing joint tax returns with another is not a problem?

reverse the roles and it's called bigamy.

[Anonymous]

Her hometown paper has been pretty brutal in an editorial........

U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar is back in the news again, and not in a good way. The former state representative who won a seat in Congress last fall continues to be dogged by past missteps, this time eight violations of Minnesota campaign-finance law that will cost her nearly $3,500 in reimbursements and civil penalties.

So complex were the allegations that the state Campaign Finance Board spent nearly a year assessing the case, deposing staff people and former staff people, along with Omar herself. The investigation was broadened in October — just a month before her election to Congress — to look more deeply into the allegations. Board Executive Director Jeff Sigurdson said that between six and eight people were deposed separately.......

It is even more disturbing, therefore, to learn that among the board’s latest findings was a troubling discovery that is far beyond its jurisdiction, but worthy of greater scrutiny nevertheless. Omar, for two years running, filed joint tax returns with a man she was living with but not legally married to. Complicating matters further, she was legally married to another man at the time.......

If this pattern continues, further investigation may be necessary. Omar could have avoided nearly every infraction by taking simple measures in advance to determine whether her actions would pass legal muster. In its findings, the board noted that Minnesota “House Research staff did explain that generally when they discuss whether a member can accept something of value, for example, travel and lodging reimbursement ... they discuss whether that would violate the gift prohibition,” but do not advise. “Rather, they commonly refer members to the Board. The Omar committee did not contact Board staff ... on the appropriateness of using committee funds for the travel reviewed in this investigation.”

Omar’s political rise has been marred by a series of unforced errors, including intemperate remarks and tweets earlier this year that were widely perceived as anti-Semitic. Every month seems to bring a fresh problem.

As an elected representative for Minnesota and one of the first Muslim women and Somali refugees elected to Congress, Omar is helping to break new ground. But more is expected of her than the symbolism attached to her victory. Omar has a special obligation to be worthy of the trust so many have placed in her, including many still-new Americans who expect better.

http://www.startribune.com/ilhan-omar-s-credibility-takes-another-hit/511152612/