Ilhan Omar Identified by New Name in DOJ Filing Amid Secret Fraud Probe
Prosecutors used 'Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar' in a court document as the DOJ seeks to keep a fraud investigation warrant sealed.
A Justice Department filing has identified U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar by a different name, "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar," according to reports. The reference emerged in a court document filed as prosecutors moved to prevent a search warrant for Omar's Washington, D.C., home from becoming public.
US Attorney Jeanine Pirro filed a motion arguing the government had not finished executing the warrant and asked a federal judge to keep the records sealed after media organizations requested access. The filing does not explain why prosecutors used the name or establish that Omar has committed any wrongdoing. Fox News has reported that investigators believe "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi" is her real name, citing sources familiar with the investigation.
The legal action follows a federal raid on Omar's home on October 12, part of an investigation into alleged fraud connected to her family's immigration paperwork. Omar told MS NOW's Chris Hayes that federal agents seized two of her phones, her youngest daughter's phone, and notebooks belonging to her husband, Tim Mynett. Agents also collected a vintage camera and a Somali language children's book.
Omar stated that the agents spent four to five hours at her home and took 17 items, describing their conduct as mostly decent and their efforts to restore order as effective.
Scrutiny of Past Marriages and Citizenship
The name in the recent filing has reignited scrutiny of Omar's 2009 marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. Critics have alleged that Elmi was Omar's brother and that the marriage was arranged to assist his immigration status. Omar has consistently denied these allegations, and the recent filing does not validate them. The New York Post reported on October 19, citing sources close to the probe, that authorities are examining the possibility of fraud in the 2009 marriage and whether the two were siblings. Investigators are reportedly considering DNA evidence, whistleblower accounts, and government records as part of their inquiry, though no DNA results have been publicly released and the allegations remain unproven in court.
Omar became a U.S. citizen in 2000 as a teenager through her father's naturalization. Investigators are reportedly looking into information contained in immigration documents related to Omar and her family. Omar has previously accused the Trump administration of politically targeting her, characterizing the investigation as an effort to intimidate a vocal critic. Her legal team has challenged the search, arguing that authorities exceeded the warrant's scope and demanding the return of seized property. The Justice Department, however, has disputed claims of violations.
The controversy also coincides with existing scrutiny of Omar's financial disclosures and her household's reported assets.