Asked by Fox News Digital’s Nicholas Ballasy for a response to statements by DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Tom Homan that, in his words, she “allegedly violated immigration law” and is “under criminal investigation,” Rep. Ilhan Omar suggested he ask them what information they have. Asked whether DHS had reached out to her formally or sent her any letters, she said no, and said no again when Ballasy asked “Not at all?” Asked about the allegation that she married her brother, she said “the right wing has always had this shit going, so I don’t really worry about it,” and closed the exchange with “You have a good day.”
Why we used this label
Omar answers the officials’ claims by telling the reporter to ask them what information they have, by saying DHS has not contacted her, and by dismissing the marriage allegation as something the right wing “has always had this shit going.” That criticizes the accusation as a recurring partisan attack, though she does not address in this exchange whether it is true. The closest competing labels are “Challenged the characterization”, because she questions the officials’ information and says she has not been contacted, and minimizes, because she says she does not “really worry about it.” They lose because she goes beyond disputing a description by characterizing the accusation itself as something the right wing “has always had this shit going,” and she concedes no concern to downplay. Ending the exchange does not make it “Explicitly stayed out”, because she answered each question first.
