Ilhan Omar's campaign has paid nearly $900,000 to consulting firm owned by her husband

Omar married Democratic strategist Tim Wynett in March. She has declined to discuss an allegation they were a couple before divorcing their respective spouses

By Daniel Payne

Published: July 8, 2020 1:05pm

Updated: July 8, 2020 3:16pm

Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar over the past two years has paid nearly $900,000 to a consulting firm owned by her new husband, federal election records show.

Disbursements from Omar's 2018 campaign and 2020 reelection campaign show the congresswoman has sent just under $880,000 to E Street Group LLC, a consultant firm run by Democratic strategist Tim Mynett, according to FEC filings.

Omar is part of the House freshman class known as "The Squad," which includes New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez and several other female Democrats know for their strong progressive agenda.

Omar and Mynett were married in March, after each divorced their respective spouses in late 2019. In court filings, Mynett's first wife said Omar was having an affair with her then-husband. Omar has denied the allegation.

The couple's financial arrangement does not appear to violate any political campaign laws, though former George W. Bush administration attorney Richard Painter told the New York Post that such arrangements "should not be allowed."

"I think it’s a horrible idea to allow it, given the amount of money that goes into these campaigns from special interests,” he said.