North Dakota lawmaker refuses to cede position after controversial Omar post

BISMARCK — Embattled State Sen. Oley Larsen, R-Minot, said Wednesday, Oct. 23, he will not resign his position as interim president pro tempore after he received backlash from the public and his own party for calling U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., a terrorist and posting a mislabeled photo of her on his Facebook page.

Larsen apologized in an op-ed for "spreading fake news" and said he will more carefully vet material he posts to social media, but he would not apologize to Omar, who he believes "is grossly sympathetic to the cause of certain religious extremists."

Republican Gov. Doug Burgum and North Dakota Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner, R-Dickinson, said Tuesday that Larsen should issue a public apology and resign his leadership position. Wardner did not rule out further disciplinary action against Larsen and said the Senate could vote to completely expel Larsen, although he noted that situations "just as bad or worse" have not led to expulsion.

Neither Burgum nor Wardner responded immediately to a request for comment.

Read more: https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/government-and-politics/4735309-North-Dakota-lawmaker-refuses-to-cede-position-after-controversial-Omar-post