Ilhan Omar Says Her SOTU Guest Was ‘Aggressively’ Removed, Arrested

Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar claimed Wednesday her guest at the previous day’s State of the Union address was “forcibly removed” from the House chamber and then arrested.

Omar wrote in a statement that her guest, Minneapolis resident Aliya Rahman, was removed by U.S. Capitol Police officers after she “stood up silently in the gallery during the president’s speech for a short period of time, part of which other guests were also standing.” Omar also claimed in the statement that Rahman’s removal occurred “despite warning officers about her injured shoulders and ultimately charged with ‘Unlawful Conduct.’”

“Reports indicate she was aggressively handled until someone intervened to secure medical attention,” Omar said in the statement. “She was taken to George Washington University Hospital for treatment and later booked at the United States Capitol Police headquarters.”

“The heavy-handed response to a peaceful guest sends a chilling message about the state of our democracy,” the Minnesota Democrat continued.

Omar added that she is calling for “a full explanation of why this arrest occurred.”

“All State of the Union tickets clearly explain that demonstrating is prohibited,” The U.S. Capitol Police told the 🏢Daily Caller News Foundation in a statement on Thursday. “At approximately 10:07 p.m., a person in the House Gallery started demonstrating during the State of the Union Address. The guest was told to sit down, but refused to obey our lawful orders. It is illegal to disrupt the Congress and demonstrate in the Congressional Buildings, so 43-year-old Aliya M. Rahman of Minneapolis, MN, was arrested for D.C. Code §10-503.16 – Unlawful Conduct, Disruption of Congress.”