Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., has won re-election to a fifth House term, defeating Republican challenger John Nagel. Her victory comes as the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI have been investigating allegations of immigration fraud against Omar, including claims that she misrepresented information on marriage applications and potentially lied about her birthdate to obtain citizenship.
The federal probe, which became public less than a month before the election, reportedly focuses on whether Omar engaged in a fraudulent marriage to obtain a green card for a man suspected to be her brother. Sources also suggest the investigation is looking into allegations that Omar or her father lied about her birthdate in 2000 when she became a U.S. citizen. If found guilty of lying on immigration paperwork, Omar could face prosecution and deportation.
Omar has vehemently denied these allegations, calling them a "racist conspiracy theory" and an attempt by political opponents to "weaponize federal law enforcement." She stated on X, formerly Twitter, that the investigation is an "escalation in his campaign of political intimidation." Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a search warrant at Omar's Washington, D.C., home on October 12.
The investigation has also reportedly broadened to examine accusations that Omar and her husband, Tim Mynett, misrepresented their net worth on House financial disclosures between 2024 and 2025, downgrading it from tens of millions of dollars to six figures.
During the campaign, Nagel, a veteran state trooper, had vowed to address benefit fraud schemes in the district. One of Omar's former campaign staffers, Guhaad Hashi Said, pleaded guilty to laundering funds from taxpayer programs intended for feeding children, a case that has touched upon Omar's previous campaign activities.
Omar, who was born in Somalia, has been a prominent figure in Congress since her first election in 2018. The allegations surrounding her immigration history and potential legal troubles have been a recurring theme, particularly in the lead-up to this election.