Minnesota Democrat Breaks With Party on Ilhan Omar Allegations

A well-connected Minnesota Democrat has broken ranks with his party, stating that allegations of Rep. Ilhan Omar marrying her brother are “almost certainly true” and advising that questions surrounding her finances should not be dismissed.

Joe Radinovich, a former Minnesota state representative and Democratic operative, voiced his assessment in a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, on Thursday. He challenged Omar’s denials and the party’s characterization of the allegations as a politically motivated smear campaign.

“Democrats should understand that the allegation is almost certainly true — whatever conclusions they draw from that point could vary — and her denials calling it a right-wing, Islamophobic or racist conspiracy are almost certainly not,” Radinovich wrote. He added that caution is advised regarding allegations about her finances, suggesting that her public responses have been inadequate and that an objective review of the evidence is unfavorable.

Radinovich's comments drew immediate criticism from Briana Rose Lee, a Democratic activist who previously worked on Omar's campaign. Lee called the allegations a “baseless and manufactured witch hunt” and a “new low.”

However, Radinovich stood by his statements, acknowledging a lack of confidence in the Justice Department’s actions but noting that a federal judge authorized the search of Omar's Washington D.C. residence. He reiterated his belief that the marriage allegation is likely true, stating, “Vibes is what it would take to believe her at this point. There’s plenty of evidence and sourcing available if you don’t dismiss it out of hand.”

Radinovich’s stance is notable due to his significant ties to the Minnesota Democratic establishment. He served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015, managed a congressional campaign, and served as chief of staff for Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. He also supported primary challenges against Omar in 2022 and 2024.

Omar, who represents Minnesota's 5th Congressional District, has consistently denied allegations that she married her brother, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, in 2009 as part of an immigration fraud scheme. The controversy has persisted for years, resurfacing amid renewed federal scrutiny of her immigration history.

Homeland Security Investigations agents searched Omar's Washington D.C. home on October 12, seizing her passport, phone, and computer. The federal investigation is reportedly examining whether Omar or her late father provided fraudulent information on citizenship paperwork decades ago, which could have implications for her citizenship status.

An investigation into the alleged marriage scheme was initially opened in 2016 during the Obama administration and remained open until 2021, when it was closed by the Biden administration. No criminal charges have been filed against Omar in connection with these allegations.

Omar's office has maintained that the claims are “politically motivated smears.” In response to Radinovich's comments, her campaign told Fox News Digital that he is a “deeply troubled individual whose demons have sadly manifested as an irrational obsession with Congresswoman Omar” and that his claims are “false, biased, and without any evidence.” The campaign further characterized him as a “shill for Republican and Corporate money.”