Former Democratic Lawmaker Publicly Criticizes Ilhan Omar Amid Immigration Probe

A prominent Minnesota Democratic figure has publicly broken with Representative Ilhan Omar, warning fellow Democrats against uncritical defense amid an ongoing federal investigation and renewed allegations that she married her brother.

Joe Radinovich, a former Democratic-Farmer-Labor state representative with deep ties to the Minnesota political establishment, stated in posts on X that the allegation of Omar marrying her brother is "almost certainly true" and that her denials are unlikely to be accurate.

"Democrats should understand that the allegation is almost certainly true... and her denials calling it a right-wing, Islamophobic or racist conspiracy are almost certainly not," Radinovich wrote. He also advised caution regarding Omar's explanations of her personal finances, suggesting they have not adequately addressed concerns.

Omar has consistently denied the allegations, framing the federal investigation as an attempt to weaponize law enforcement against a political opponent. No criminal charges have been announced against her.

The controversy, which has resurfaced longstanding claims about Omar's marriage to Ahmed Elmi, whom former President Donald Trump has alleged is her brother, comes as Homeland Security Investigations agents searched her Washington, D.C., home on October 12. The search was conducted under a federal warrant related to an investigation into immigration paperwork from the 1990s, when Omar and her family immigrated to the U.S. from Somalia. Omar became a U.S. citizen in 2000.

The Justice Department has requested that the search warrant application and supporting affidavit be sealed to avoid compromising the ongoing investigation. Prosecutors are still reviewing evidence and have not yet decided whether to pursue charges.

Republican challenger John Nagel, seeking to unseat Omar in November, has continued to demand that she release her immigration records and take a DNA test to quell the rumors. Nagel, a retired Minnesota State Trooper, has made fraud and public safety central themes of his campaign. He stated that if Omar is innocent, providing the necessary paperwork and a DNA sample would be simple.

Despite the scrutiny, major election forecasters continue to rate Omar's seat in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District as safely Democratic. The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, and Decision Desk HQ all classify the district as solidly or safely Democratic. Polling from The Hill suggests Omar has a 99% chance of winning re-election. Omar has also significantly outraised Nagel, having collected approximately $8.2 million by October 14, compared to Nagel's approximately $1.1 million.