Emmer Says Ilhan Omar Could Be Out Of Congress Without An Expulsion Vote

Rep. Tom Emmer says Republicans may not need to hold a House vote to remove Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar from Congress.

The Minnesota Republican made the claim in a recent interview, when he was asked whether the GOP planned any effort to oust Omar before Democrats take control of the House in January.

"I don't think we're going to need to," Emmer said in a video posted to X.

Emmer, the House Republican whip, appeared on Newsmax, where he suggested the questions around Omar's citizenship records could settle the matter without any action from her colleagues.

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Emmer did not hold back in describing his fellow Minnesota lawmaker. "I think Ilhan Omar, she's a dishonest, anti-American individual who has lied about her age for years," he said.

The Age Question At The Center

Emmer was referring to reports that Omar's birth year was changed on her citizenship documents. According to those reports, the change allowed her to apply for citizenship as part of her family rather than on her own. Applying alone would have been required if she was already 18 at the time.

"Why did she lie about her age? She lied because you get naturalized as a citizen with your natural parent when they are naturalized, if you are under the age of 18," Emmer said. "Well, she was not under the age of 18. She lied about that so she could be naturalized."

"I think what's going to happen is they're going to confirm that her birth date was actually over the age of 18 when she claimed to be a minor to be naturalized," he said.

Asked whether a determination had been made about Omar's actual birth date, Emmer said, "I think the Department of Justice is finalizing that." His remarks did not establish that federal authorities had reached any such finding.

'An Administrative Procedure'

Emmer argued that letting the administrative process move forward would be more efficient than trying to expel Omar through a House vote, which requires a two-thirds majority.

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"At the end of the day, that's the easiest thing. She would have to reapply to be a citizen — it's an administrative procedure. She shouldn't be in Congress," he said.

Asked again about House action, Emmer replied, "I said we don't have to."

"What I'm saying is the birth date is an administrative procedure, and once it's established that she was over the age of 18 when she claimed to be a minor, she's no longer a citizen of the United States," he continued. "And when she's no longer a citizen, she's not entitled to serve in Congress."

Conservative commentator Benny Johnson shared a clip of the interview and quoted Emmer saying, "She can go represent Somalia."

A Separate Criminal Track

Emmer said possible criminal charges are a different matter. The Justice Department is still weighing charges that could lead to an indictment.

"The indictment is completely separate, and that will go through in court," Emmer said.

Omar is also under investigation for possible marriage fraud tied to allegations that she married her brother. She has denied wrongdoing, and no charges against her have been announced.

Democrats are set to take over the House in January. If Emmer is right, that change in control would not decide Omar's future in Congress. For now, his prediction rests on a Justice Department review that has not been made public.