Newly surfaced correspondence reveals that Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., in 2019, advised a state lawmaker to utilize the congressional ethics complaint process himself rather than referring an ethics inquiry into Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn. The exchange occurred after Steve Drazkowski, then a Minnesota state representative, urged Craig to initiate an investigation into Omar. Craig’s response directed Drazkowski to the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE), explaining that the independent, non-partisan body is responsible for reviewing allegations of misconduct against members and referring matters to the House Committee on Ethics, and that the OCE accepts information from the public. This occurred two days after Drazkowski sent Craig a letter detailing accusations, including that Omar filed joint tax returns with Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi in 2014 and 2015, despite not being legally married at the time, a fact supported by a Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board report. Drazkowski, identifying as Craig’s constituent, had formally requested Craig forward the material and open an ethics investigation, citing a Minnesota Campaign Finance Board report that found Omar violated state campaign finance laws, including improperly using $1,500 in campaign funds for personal tax-related services and repaying funds used for travel. Despite Craig’s redirection, Drazkowski submitted his own complaint to the House Ethics Committee and the OCE, emphasizing that no one is above the law and demanding high ethical standards. However, Drazkowski later told Fox News Digital that he struggled to get a substantive response through the congressional ethics process and subsequently brought his allegations to the FBI’s Minneapolis office, though he also expressed frustration with the federal investigators’ handling of the information. Neither the House Ethics Committee, the FBI, nor Omar and Craig responded to requests for comment from Fox News Digital.
Adapted from: Latest Political News on Fox News
