Federal prosecutors allegedly attempted to recruit a former bodyguard for Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar as an informant in an effort to build a criminal case against her, according to reports.
Abdullahi Mohamed, who briefly worked on Omar's security detail during an overseas trip, was reportedly offered assistance with his immigration case in exchange for providing damaging information about the congresswoman. His lawyer, Bruce Rivers, told The New York Times that investigators spent months pressuring his client to provide details about Omar's immigration history, marriage, and finances.
Rivers further alleged that prosecutors repeatedly told him the investigation into Omar was being directed from the White House, describing the probe as "100 percent being run by 1600 Pennsylvania Ave," the address of the White House. Rivers stated he had "never seen anything like this" in his nearly 28 years of practicing law in federal court.
The investigation reportedly focused on allegations surrounding Omar's 2009 marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, examining whether the marriage was intended to help a man suspected of being her brother obtain a green card. Omar has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Mohamed's case began in October 2025 when he applied for a green card. During an immigration interview, he was questioned about interactions with American politicians and government officials, which he denied, despite his brief work for Omar. His lawyer attributed this to Mohamed's limited English proficiency.
Mohamed's green card application was denied, and he subsequently received a letter from the Justice Department informing him of a criminal investigation for allegedly lying to a government official, a felony offense carrying a potential sentence of up to five years. In March, prosecutors invited Mohamed to a proffer meeting, where they questioned him about Omar's personal and financial affairs. They inquired about her immigration journey, marital history, and a possible $10,000 payment involving Omar and one of Mohamed's brothers, which investigators allegedly described as a potential bribe.
According to Rivers, prosecutors offered to help prevent Mohamed's deportation if he provided incriminating information about Omar. Mohamed reportedly told investigators he had no such information, and his brother later explained the $10,000 payment was to settle a loan.
After failing to secure his cooperation, prosecutors obtained a grand jury indictment against Mohamed in April. However, the case shifted in September when Mohamed testified before a grand jury under immunity. The following day, prosecutors moved to dismiss the indictment, citing no further federal interest as Mohamed had been placed in deportation proceedings. He has since left the United States for Kenya.
Omar's spokesperson told The New York Times that the congresswoman had never directly employed Mohamed and condemned the alleged effort to recruit him, calling it a "staggering abuse of presidential power and a blatant weaponization of the full federal government to intimidate political opponents."
The Department of Justice stated that the matter was "completely unrelated to any current investigations." The revelations follow federal agents' search of Omar's Washington home in October and subpoenas compelling those close to her to testify before a grand jury.
Former President Donald Trump had previously called for scrutiny of Omar over immigration history allegations. In March, he referred to Omar as "one of the ringleaders" and expressed hope that she would be investigated.