Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Republican Opponent Raises Concerns About Pattern of Traffic Violations

Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar was convicted for failing to show a current driver registration during her 2018 congressional campaign, the latest in a pattern of traffic incidents that includes an arrest for driving without a license and two apparent suspensions. Her Republican opponent believes these incidents—among Omar’s two dozen convictions—point to deeper issues that should concern voters.

In the case of State of Minnesota v. Ilhan Abdullahi Omar, filed on Oct. 25, 2018, in a Hennepin County court, Omar was convicted of “failure to display current registration—expired plates,” a petty misdemeanor. On Nov. 16, 2018, shortly after her election to U.S. Congress, Omar was convicted for another offense. The Oct. 4, 1982, birth date of the convicted person in both cases matches Omar’s birth date.

“The lack of reporting is concerning,” Danielle Stella, a Republican challenger for Omar’s seat in Congress, told The Epoch Times, referring to the failure by the media to report on Omar’s traffic troubles.

“I get it, the district has been a Democratic district for a little while, but at what point is the press required to do their job and actually inform the people of character concerns?”

Omar was also convicted of a petty misdemeanor on Dec. 22, 2016, in the case State of Minnesota v. Ilhan Abdullahi Omar, for driving without a vehicle registration. She failed to appear in court or pay her fine, prompting a second penalty that was sent to collections and ultimately rejected by the collection agency.

On Oct. 12, 2012, Omar was convicted of a petty misdemeanor of speeding, but days earlier, her misdemeanor charge for driving with no Minnesota driver’s license had been dismissed. Omar initially failed to appear in court. Court records note that on June 8, 2012, a driver’s license suspension request was sent to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Upon conviction, a driver’s license reinstatement request was sent to the Department of Public Safety, indicating that Omar’s license was suspended in the interim.

Court records show previous Omar convictions for making an illegal right turn on red in 2012 and disobeying a stop sign in 2010. In the latter case, court records show that a driver’s license suspension request was sent to the Department of Public Safety on July 20, 2009, and a driver’s license reinstatement request was sent to the Department of Public Safety on Sept. 28, 2010, indicating that Omar’s license was suspended for an extended period of time.

“One thing that’s concerning is the sheer amount of traffic violations and carelessness with not having her registration. It keeps occurring; I don’t know if she thinks she is above the law—or in Minneapolis, maybe she is the law, because no one reports on it,” Stella said.

“Either way, it doesn’t bode well for somebody who is supposed to be representing the people.”

Omar was arrested and booked at Hennepin County Jail in 2013 for “trespassing and refusing to leave a hotel upon lawful demand,” according to a police report.

Omar’s office did not respond to a request for comment by press time.