WASHINGTON — Florida Republican Rep. Randy Fine is signaling he may seek a House vote to expel Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, contingent on the results of ongoing inquiries into allegations involving her personal history.
“We’re waiting to get the data on the brother marriage thing, which I think is coming,” Fine said in an interview. “If it turns out that that is actually the reality, will there be a vote on the floor to expel this woman from Congress? Absolutely.”
At the same time, Fine is introducing the “Disqualifying Dual Loyalty Act,” legislation that would require members of the House and Senate to hold only U.S. citizenship and renounce any foreign citizenship to remain in office. Fine framed the measure as ensuring undivided allegiance.
“The bottom line is that you can’t serve two masters,” Fine said. “If you’re going to serve in the United States Congress, you should serve America ONLY.”
Supporters, including Rep. Andy Harris, argue dual citizenship creates potential conflicts of interest, especially for lawmakers with access to classified information. Harris said the concern goes beyond voting records to national security risks. “It’s not just about the vote,” Harris said. “It’s about access to our national security secrets. They get to learn things that people from their home countries would never get to know.”
Fine and Harris cited Omar and at least one state-level official as examples of figures they believe may prioritize foreign interests. Fine claimed some Democrats have shown U.S. interests are not their top priority but offered no specific evidence for that assertion.
The bill would apply to both chambers. Harris acknowledged the practical barrier: “The Senate will never, ever pass it. But we want to get it done […] it’s about Americans first.”
Any expulsion effort would require a two-thirds House majority, a high bar rarely met. No formal expulsion proceedings have been scheduled. Congressional expulsion has historically been reserved for cases involving corruption, serious ethical violations, or criminal convictions.
Legal experts note that dual citizenship itself is not barred by the Constitution for members of Congress. The debate occurs against a backdrop of ongoing scrutiny of Omar, including past questions about financial disclosures and, more recently, Minnesota House committee actions related to the Feeding Our Future fraud investigation, though a subpoena effort there fell short of the required votes.
The dual citizenship proposal and any potential expulsion vote remain early-stage and face significant procedural and political hurdles.
