Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) spoke to reporters on Capitol Hill Monday evening about the fallout from her anti-Semitic tweets Sunday night and subsequent apology. Omar answered several questions as she momentarily paused before getting on an elevator with staff, answering a few more while on the elevator. Throughout her encounter with the media, Omar furiously chewed on something–even as she was talking.
The video below was taken by CNN’s Ashley Killough and posted by her CNN colleague Manu Raju.
Rep. Omar has not spoken to reporters today until now when she declined to weigh in further on her apology as she arrived at the Capitol, deferring to her statement from earlier
She also said she is “absolutely not” worried about losing committee assignments, per @KilloughCNN
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 12, 2019
How Omar responded to questions about her apology tonight – via @KilloughCNN pic.twitter.com/gA4Y63aDn6
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 12, 2019
It’s probably chewing gum, or nicotine gum. However, a recent bust in her home state of Minnesota of 500 pounds of khat shows the chewable stimulant plant popular in Omar’s native Somalia is gaining popularity here.
Khat Bust: Over the past two weeks our Enhanced Patrol Unit (EPU) seized a total of 502.5 pounds of freeze dried Khat. Working off of a tip given by a concerned citizen, they were able to seize the contraband in Eagan, Wayzata, and Minneapolis. Khat info- https://t.co/ySTxqSNuP0 pic.twitter.com/Z17rcv2vcZ
— Eagan Police (@EaganPolice) February 7, 2019
Whatever it was Omar was chewing, she kept right on chewing it when first looking into the camera until the end of the clip where she is seen in the back of the elevator answering one final question.
In the screen image below, Omar’s left cheek bulges out as she chews.
