Dr. Oz voted in Turkish election despite skipping American primary, sparking criticism

WASHINGTON (TND) — Television show host and Pennsylvania Senate candidate Mehmet Oz, commonly known as "Dr. Oz," is facing criticism after a report alleged he skipped voting in a June 2018 primary election, but voted in the Turkish presidential race just days later.

Voter records show Oz did not participate in the Republican Senate primary election on June 5, 2018, according to The Washington Free Beacon.

The records are reportedly from New Jersey, where Oz resided at the time. Oz did vote in the November general election in 2018, those same records reportedly show.

However, a photograph of Oz casting his ballot in the 2018 presidential election in Turkey exists, NBC News reports.

That photograph, along with Oz's reported insistence he had "never been politically involved in Turkey in any capacity," has drawn criticism,

The decision to vote in a foreign country's election is problematic from a security clearance perspective," former government lawyer John V. Berry told NBC News. Berry reportedly has expertise in federal security clearances.

Adding to the criticism, former CIA Director and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reportedly referenced Oz's Turkish vote at a press conference organized by Republican businessman David McCormick, who is running against Oz.

"The [Oz] campaign owes the people of Pennsylvania an explanation," Pompeo said, according to Insider.com, adding Pompeo claims Oz's ties to Turkey pose national security concerns and the television personality's vote in the Turkish election brings to question Oz's "priorities."

Oz has been officially endorsed by former President Donald J. Trump. Oz's opponent, David McCormick is one of many who are in Pennsylvania's GOP Senate primary, which has been called "crowded" by Fox News. There are seven people running in Pennsylvania's GOP primary.

Maybe it's all innocent, maybe it's all straight up," Pompeo said, The Hill reports. "but we and the people of Pennsylvania and the Americans who he will be representing as one of the 100 members of the United States Senate voting on important national security matters need to understand the scope and depth of his relationship with the Turkish government.

Speaking with The Washington Free Beacon, Oz campaign spokesperson Brittany Yanick said the Pennsylvania Senate candidate voted while he was in Turkey meeting with the consulate over humanitarian work.

It was during an election season, so he voted. He does not regularly vote in Turkish elections," Yanick reportedly said, adding Oz voted against Turkey's infamous authoritarian President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Oz has previously come under fire for being a dual Turkish-U.S. citizen, serving in the Turkish military, and allegedly "rubbing shoulders" with Turkish President Recep Erdogan, The Washington Free Beacon says.

Yanick has already spoken on those concerns, calling the comments "pathetic and xenophobic" while talking with Insider.com.

Dr. Oz has already said when elected to the Senate he would renounce his citizenship," Yanick reportedly said. "There is no security issue whatsoever, and David McCormick knows that Dr. Oz has maintained his dual citizenship to make it easier to help care for his mother who has Alzheimer's and lives there.

Pennsylvania's GOP primary is on May 17, 2022. Axios reports that, in a recent poll released by Franklin & Marshall College, the GOP candidates are currently in a "statistical tie."

Oz had 18% of respondents and McCormick had 16% in that poll, Axios says. Kathy Barnette, another GOP contender, reportedly had 12%.