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Capitol View®
Tim Pugmire

Pirate connection concerns House GOP leader

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The Republican Minority Leader in the Minnesota House, Rep. Marty Seifert, R-Marshall, said today that he wants to make sure state tax money doesn't end up supporting pirates.

In a news release titled NO TAXPAYER SUPPORT FOR PIRATE LOVERS AND TERRORISTS, Seifert said he was responding to news reports of a connection between Omar Jamal, the executive director of the St.Paul-based Somali Justice Advocacy Center, and a Somali teenager facing piracy charges in the Unites States. Jamal reportedly helped get a lawyer for Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse. The teen was the lone Somali pirate to escape the recent hostage-taking of an American ship captain.

Seifert said he plans to offer an amendment to the House public safety finance bill later this week to deny non-profit status and prohibit grants from any organization linked to piracy or terrorism.

"Taxpayers shouldn't be supporting those who support and defend people who attack Americans," Seifert said.

Jamal told the Associated Press that Muse does not speak English and is confused at his circumstances.