Challenger Criticizes Ilhan Omar Over Response to Somali Gang Violence in Minnesota

John Nagel, a former Minnesota state trooper and current challenger to Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., has accused Omar and the Democratic Party of failing to address escalating gang-related violence in the Twin Cities.

Nagel specifically pointed to recent incidents, including the shooting of two teenagers outside an Eden Prairie high school football game and the discovery of over 100 shell casings in a Bloomington neighborhood, as evidence of a growing problem that he believes Democratic leadership has not adequately confronted.

"Where is Ilhan Omar in all of this?" Nagel asked in an interview with Fox News Digital. "I would think that as a congressman that represents this particular area that she'd be at these meetings or she'd have a statement or she’d be sitting down and saying, ‘Hey, how can we help this? How could we stop this?’ And I don't see her."

Nagel also criticized other Minnesota Democrats, including Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, alleging they have been permissive on crime, which he believes has emboldened gang members.

"They're being restrained by politicians, people that are trying soft on crime, people that're trying to send somebody other than a police officer to take care of issues, and it's not working," Nagel stated. He further contended that many Democrats "don’t want enforcement," while "the people do. They're tired of it."

Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher has also highlighted concerns about accountability for gang members. Fletcher noted that while "East African" is sometimes used to describe those involved, "98% of these gang members are Somali," suggesting that specificity is necessary.

Moriarty's office, through spokesperson Daniel Borgertpoepping, stated that no cases related to the Bloomington incident had yet been submitted for charging, but would be reviewed if they were. Following the Eden Prairie shooting, Adam Abdihakeem Adam, 18, was charged with two counts of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon and second-degree riot. Moriarty affirmed in a press release that Adam "will be held accountable" and that "violence in our communities is completely unacceptable."

Nagel suggested that a dedicated gang task force and stricter enforcement of existing laws, rather than new legislation or funding initiatives, are needed to combat the violence. He emphasized the need for "enforcement, arrests, and incarceration" to prevent further escalation.

Nagel is running against Omar and Independent candidate DeVelle Jackson for the U.S. House seat representing Minnesota's 5th Congressional District in the upcoming midterm elections.