The woman seen in the video said she was grateful to take part in the ceremony.
At least one of the immigrants seen at the naturalization ceremony shown Tuesday during the Republican National Convention told ABC News that they were unaware that the video would be used during the event.
Neimat Awadelseid told ABC News she was not aware that President Donald Trump himself would attend the event, but knew it would be in the White House. They added that they signed a release so they could use videos of the event however they wanted.
The taped naturalization was played out during the second night and raised eyebrows of ethical watchdogs and Democrats over the use of an official government, staff and building for a political event. Democrats in the Homeland Security Commission have called for an investigation into the Hatch Act following the participation of Acting Secretary Chad Wolf in the event.
Awadelseid, however, told ABC News that she was not upset that the ceremony was included in the programming of the convention.
“It is my honor to be granted my citizenship by a President of the United States,” she said.
A second individual who took part in the ceremony, Sudha Narayanan, told The Wall Street Journal that she was also unaware that the ceremony would be part of the video segments of the RNC, but added: “We were just happy that it happened in a special place. “
Another immigrant who was at the ceremony, Salih Abdul Samad, did not tell ABC News if he knew the taped event would be used during the ceremony, but said he was grateful to be a part of it.
“Not everyone gets the chance to be there, to be sworn in as a citizen of this great nation,” he told ABC News.
Critics were alarmed at the possible ethical violations the video presented.
“It is corruption in its highest form for Chad Wolf, in coordination with President Trump, to create a swearing-in ceremony for a partisan convention,” Austin Evers, executive director of watchdog group American Oversight, told ABC News.
Homeland Security Commission Chairman Bennie Thompson wrote a letter to Special Advocate Henry Kerner on Wednesday urging him to investigate Wolf’s involvement as a possible violation of the Hatch Act.
“Mr. Wolf’s participation appears to be involved in political activities while acting in an official capacity. It also sets a bad example for the 240,000 employees of the department who are required to comply with the Hatch Act. , “wrote Thompson.
The Department of Homeland Security directed ABC News to the White House for comment, which ABC later focused on the Trump campaign. The campaign declined to comment.
ABC News’ Ivan Pereira, Luke Barr and John Santucci contributed to this report.
.
