Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has stated that an internal investigation has found evidence that Congresswoman Ilhan Omar married her brother. Mullin claimed the marriage was an attempt to bring him into the United States.
Speaking to conservative pundit Benny Johnson, Mullin said the congresswoman's actions could constitute "possible illegal activity" and indicated the investigation is active. He noted that such investigations typically remain undisclosed by officials. "We're investigating," Mullin stated, adding that if the investigation proves Omar "shouldn't have been here in the first place, we'll deport you," as there is "no expiration" on potential charges.
Mullin was referring to the second man Omar married, identified in previous reports as Ahmed Elmi. According to the Daily Mail, Omar allegedly remained married to her first husband, Ahmed Hirsi, at the time of her marriage to Elmi. Omar has consistently denied these allegations.
Omar, a Democrat representing Minnesota, has since remarried and is currently wed to political consultant Tim Mynett.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement, as per policy, declining to comment on "specific investigative techniques, ongoing investigations, or potential future actions." However, the statement also asserted that "No one, including members of Congress, are above the law," which appeared to align with Mullin's assertions.
Reports of Omar marrying her brother first surfaced in 2016 on the website Somalispot, which claimed Elmi began university at North Dakota State University after the alleged marriage and graduated in 2012. A past friend of Omar's, Abdihakim Osman, told the Daily Mail in 2020 that Omar had expressed a desire to obtain legal status for her brother when she was married to Hirsi, suggesting this might have involved marriage.
Omar married Hirsi in 2002 in a Muslim ceremony that was not officially registered with the state. Mullin insisted that the investigation into Omar is apolitical, despite her being a frequent target of former President Donald Trump.
Mullin stated, "When we move forward, it's not political."