Ilhan Omar blames Trump's 'criminal neglect' for her father's death from coronavirus and calls for administration officials to be prosecuted for handling of pandemic
Ilhan Omar has claimed her father died from Covid-19 because of 'criminal neglect' by Donald Trump and his administration.
The firebrand Democrat Representative for Minnesota, 38, lost her father Nur Omar Mohamed to the virus in June, aged 67.
Speaking to MSNBC on Friday, the 'Squad' member blasted the government for their handling of the pandemic, saying they are responsible for the many deaths this year in the US.
Ilhan Omar has claimed her father Nur Omar Mohamed (pictured together) died from Covid-19 because of 'criminal neglect' by Donald Trump and his administration
She said: 'I lost my father on June 16. I remember my dad was in Kenya, he came back into the US when Covid hit because he thought he was going to be safer here.
'My father and over 300,000 people have lost their lives to Covid because of dangerous criminal neglect by Trump and his administration.'
Omar said she supported House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn who released a memo on Wednesday saying he had found evidence of 'political interference' by Trump's administration into the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during the handling of the pandemic.
She said: 'I agree with Clyburn that it is not enough for us just to issue subpoenas, we have to investigate and prosecute these people who are responsible for these reckless deaths.'
The Representative for Minnesota, 38, lost her father Nur Omar Mohamed to the virus in June, aged 67
The congresswoman sounded emotional as she discussed her father's death and lambasted Trump for his management of the virus.
She said: 'My father should be here today, so many of our family members should be here today and they're not here with us because we had leaders who didn't care about their lives.
'Our president today has not shown an ounce of compassion to the people who have passed away. He still has not acknowledged the devastating loss so many of us are feeling.
'My father survived so many things and for him to lose his life to Covid is devastating.'
The congresswoman sounded emotional as she discussed her father's death and lambasted Trump for his management of the virus
Her comments come after the House coronavirus subcommittee opened a probe into alleged interference by the Trump administration into the CDC.
Paul Alexander, who served as a Health and Human Services scientific advisor, and Trump ally Michael Caputo were accused of meddling with the work of scientists.
Alexander wrote in a July email obtained by the subcommittee: 'So the bottom line is if it is more infectiouness now, the issue is who cares?
Omar said she supported House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn who released a memo on Wednesday saying he had found evidence of 'political interference' by Trump's administration into the CDC
'If it is causing more cases in young, my word is who cares… as long as we make sensible decisions, and protect the elderely and nursing homes, we must go on with life….who cares if we test more and get more positive tests…
'There is no other way, we need to establish herd, and it only comes about allowing the non-high risk groups expose themselves to the virus. PERIOD.'
Clyburn said: 'I am deeply troubled that, instead of promoting the best available science needed to keep Americans safe, the Trump Administration has played politics with a pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 300,000 of our fellow Americans.'
The probe comes as 3,270 Americans died of Covid-19 on Thursday, the third deadliest day of the pandemic so far and the third consecutive day deaths have surpassed 3,000.
The country also recorded 233,271 new infections and hospitalizations surged to an all-time high with more than 114,237 patients being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals across the country.
At least 3,270 Americans died of COVID-19 on Thursday, which is the third deadliest day of the pandemic so far and the third consecutive day deaths have surpassed 3,000
The grim figures come just one day after the US recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic with more than 3,600 American dying in the previous 24 hours.
Since the start of the pandemic, the US has recorded more than 17 million coronavirus infections and more than 310,000 deaths.
The month of December is on track to become the deadliest month of the pandemic. Just 17 days into the month, December has already recorded 42,400 deaths. It is shy of the 52,2000 deaths recorded during the entire month of April.
The nationwide seven-day average for daily deaths now stands at 2,545.
The country also recorded 233,271 new infections on Thursday. The US has recorded more than 17 million COVID-19 cases since the start of the pandemic
The country also recorded 233,271 new infections and hospitalizations surged to an all-time high with more than 114,237 patients being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals across the country.
The grim figures come just one day after the US recorded its deadliest day of the pandemic with more than 3,600 American dying in the previous 24 hours.
Since the start of the pandemic, the US has recorded more than 17 million coronavirus infections and more than 310,000 deaths.
The month of December is on track to become the deadliest month of the pandemic. Just 17 days into the month, December has already recorded 42,400 deaths. It is shy of the 52,2000 deaths recorded during the entire month of April.
Vice President Mike Pence became the highest-ranking U.S. official to receive the coronavirus vaccine Friday morning at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building by Walter Reed Medical Center staff
The nationwide seven-day average for daily deaths now stands at 2,545.
The FDA's vaccine advisory committee on Thursday endorsed Moderna's coronavirus vaccine, which all but assures the shot will get emergency approval by the end of the week.
And Vice President Mike Pence became the highest-ranking U.S. official to receive a vaccine Friday when he received his first dose alongside wife Karen and Surgeon General Jerome Adams.
'I didn't feel a thing. Well done. We appreciate your service to the country,' Pence said in remarks directly after he rolled up his left sleeve and received his injection.
The vice president, who heads the White House coronavirus taskforce, said he believed that 'history will record that this week is the beginning of the end of the coronavirus pandemic.'