Committee wrap-up discussion ends with vote to subpoena emails from Rep. Ilhan Ohmar

ST. PAUL, Minn. (KVRR) — Minnesota’s House committee on Fraud Prevention met for an end of session wrap-up discussion.

They began by hearing testimony on issues regarding the Department of Human Services.

The committee took a vote to subpoena emails from Rep. Ilhan Omar related to communications between her office and people that were later convicted in the Feeding Our Future fraud.

Republicans argued that they were necessary to get a fuller picture of fraud in the state, while DFLer’s were skeptical it would be useful this late in the session.

“Madame Chair, I do not see any value that comes out of this,” said Rep. Dave Pinto (DFL). “I don’t see (…) that this committee would make any decent use of information it would receive, and if there’s something to be found here – or even if there is not – I have no doubt that there is plenty of federal investigative energy that will go into it. So, Respectfully, I would not agree to the issuance.”

The vote was 5-3 in favor of the subpoena, but it did not reach the two-thirds majority it needed to pass.

The committee will meet one more time to prepare reports from both the majority and minority parties.