Somali refugee quits Maine city council hours into term amid gun charge and residency scandal — but blames exit on racism
Image source: Lewiston City Council YouTube screenshot
Osman’s resignation letter did not address any of the allegations against him.
“He was absolutely confident that he would have prevailed in the residency investigation introduced by the city council on Monday,” Kiernan Majerus-Collins, Osman’s attorney, told WMTW. “But the level of attacks, the vitriol, the racism, and the threats have gotten to the point where he felt like it was in the best interest of his family, his community, and the city to step aside.”
“The fact that the Trump administration is targeting Somali and Somali-Americans across the country absolutely played a role in ginning up the kind of hatred and threats of violence that ultimately forced him to conclude that he could no longer serve in public office at this time,” he added.
Council President David Chittim. Image source: Lewiston City Council YouTube screenshot
Steve Robinson, the editor in chief of the Maine Wire, addressed city council members during the public comments section of Thursday’s meeting. He alleged that the Wire reporter, Jon Fetherston, had received threats and experienced intimidation due to his coverage of city council matters. Fetherston has been attending city council meetings and reporting on the claims against Osman.
“Earlier today, [Fetherston] had vehicles driving around threatening him, intimidating him, making gun hand gestures at him. So I would just like to know what is the city council going to do about issues like that, where someone who is conducting routine, basic journalism is facing threats of intimidation and gun violence,” Robinson stated.
Fetherson previously told Blaze News that it is “obvious” that Osman is lying about his residency.
“On the very first night of him being sworn in as a city councilor, Mr. Osman took the oath of office and swore to defend the Constitution, yet he then voted on the matter of whether the council should investigate his own residency instead of recusing himself, casting a ‘no’ vote,” Fetherston told Blaze News. “In my almost 40 years of elected office and/or reporting, I have never seen a bigger blow to democracy and disrespect of the election process than what has occurred with Iman Osman and how ‘leadership’ in Lewiston has handled this situation.”
When reached for comment, City Council President and Ward 6 Councilor David Chittim told Blaze News that members unanimously voted on Thursday to discontinue the investigation into Osman’s residency.
“His resignation effectively removed him from the council’s purview,” Chittim explained, adding that per the Lewiston City Charter, the city council is required to fill the vacancy by appointment.
When asked about the alleged harassment against a Maine Wire reporter, Chittim replied, “Last night the council heard allegations that a reporter for the Maine Wire has been harassed. I do not know how or whether the council will respond to these allegations.”
The city’s communications director and the mayor did not respond to a request for comment.
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