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Politics and Government News
The Associated Press

Lawmaker won't apologize to Omar over fake photo

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A Republican state senator from North Dakota said Wednesday he's sorry for posting a long-debunked photo that purports to show Minnesota Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar holding a weapon at an al-Qaida training camp, but that he won't apologize to Omar.

State Sen. Oley Larsen said in a Facebook post that he's "sorry for spreading fake news" and was "willing to own my role in spreading misinformation" before lobbing fresh criticism at Omar.

"Although there is no evidence that she has directly engaged in terrorist activity, there is ample evidence that she is grossly sympathetic to the cause of certain religious extremists," Larsen wrote.

Larsen didn't reply to several phone calls seeking comment.

Omar is a Somali American and one of the first Muslims elected to Congress. Larsen repeated familiar criticism from some conservatives for remarks that Omar made in recent months on Israel, Jewish influence in Washington, and 9/11 that have drawn accusations of anti-Semitism and insensitivity.

Omar apologized for suggesting that lawmakers support Israel for money and has said she wasn't criticizing Jews. She said criticizing the Israeli government is not anti-Semitic.

Omar did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Larsen's fresh attacks.

Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner and GOP Gov. Doug Burgum on Tuesday called on Larsen to apologize and to relinquish his position as president pro tempore, a post in which he presides over sessions when the lieutenant governor is absent.

Larsen wrote that he won't resign from "any of my positions" in the Legislature.

Wardner said Larsen told him Tuesday night that he would not step aside.

"He thinks he has done nothing wrong, but he's only caused a riot," Wardner said.

Wardner called Larsen's actions an embarrassment to the Legislature and North Dakota. He said he will meet with the state Senate's GOP caucus before deciding what to do next.