Ilhan Omar's deleted tweet sparks renewed scrutiny over father's name, marriage allegations

A 2013 social media post by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) that referred to her father by the name "Nur Said" has resurfaced, drawing renewed attention to questions surrounding her identity and immigration records. The tweet, originally posted on June 16, 2013, and deleted in 2019, has become a focal point as federal investigators examine allegations of false statements on immigration and naturalization documents.

Multiple records, including a memorial post by the Congressional Black Caucus upon his death in 2020, identify Omar's father as "Nur Omar Mohamed." However, the now-deleted X post referred to him as "Nur Said." This name is notably similar to that of Omar's former husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, fueling long-standing allegations that Omar may have married her brother.

The Daily Caller first reported on the archived tweet in 2019. Its resurfacing comes after federal agents conducted a search of Omar's Washington, D.C., residence on October 12 as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. Omar and her office have consistently denied the allegations of marrying her brother and have characterized the federal probe as a politically motivated attack.

Somali naming conventions typically include a given name, the father's given name, and the paternal grandfather's given name. While name similarities alone do not confirm familial ties, the recurrence of "Nur Said" in relation to both her father and former husband has intensified scrutiny.

According to reports, a statement attributed to Omar's spokesperson suggested "Nur Said" was her father's childhood nickname and that he used the name on a public page. The statement also cited threats against Omar and her family as the reason for deleting the tweet. Omar's office did not respond to requests for comment regarding the deleted post.

Her father has been referred to as "Nur Said" in some external reports as well. For instance, an Oxford University historian quoted in a New York Post story about Omar's father's alleged military experience used the name "Nur Said."

In a recent interview, Omar responded to questions about her former husband potentially being a "distant relative" by stating, "Not to my knowledge." When pressed on her name, she told Fox News Digital, "Ilhan Abdullahi Omar, you know it. It’s Ilhan Abdullahi Omar."

However, recent court documents related to the federal search warrant identified Omar as "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, aka Ilhan Abdullahi Omar." The filing did not elaborate on the presence of "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi" or confirm its use as a false identity. A source familiar with the investigation suggested that "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi" might be Omar's legal name, a characterization disputed by her office.

Omar's marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi concluded in divorce in 2017. She later married Ahmed Hirsi in 2018.

A former Minnesota federal immigration judge noted that knowingly using a false name on federal forms could potentially fall under the federal false statements statute, 18 U.S.C. § 1001, depending on the specifics of the documents, the materiality of the alleged misstatement, and evidence of intent. The Justice Department has not commented on the investigation.