Ilhan Omar Denies Immigration Fraud Allegations Amid Federal Probe
The Minnesota congresswoman addressed rumors about her marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi and confirmed a search of her Washington D.C. residence.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., has denied allegations that she married her former husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, to commit immigration fraud. In her first public comments since federal agents searched her Washington D.C. residence on October 12, Omar also addressed long-standing rumors that she and Elmi are related, stating, "Not to my knowledge."
Omar made these remarks in an interview with MS Now host Chris Hayes, discussing the origins of the rumors about her marriage. "It all started with the Somali blog," Omar said. "Somebody put it there, that he had to have been my brother or something to that effect."
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents executed a court-authorized search warrant as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation into possible false statements in Omar's immigration and naturalization documents. The Justice Department has not publicly detailed the specifics of the allegations.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia approved the warrant. The congresswoman's office has not responded to repeated requests for comment regarding the investigation and the raid on her home.
Omar has maintained her innocence, asserting that the investigation is politically motivated. She has publicly urged supporters to contribute financially to her campaign.
According to reports, federal authorities have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas and seized Omar's cellphone as part of the investigation. The Associated Press reported that Omar's sister, Sahra Noor, spoke with federal investigators in the week following the raid.
Beyond the immigration fraud inquiry, a separate investigation is examining Omar's campaign finances and financial disclosures. This investigation, reportedly initiated in 2024 during the Biden administration, concerns a significant disparity noted in her disclosures. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro stated last week that the matter is now being investigated by authorities outside of Congress.
Both investigations are reported to be ongoing.