Christine Drews Sieger
Rep. Ilhan Omar denied immigration fraud allegations and rumors of being related to her ex-husband.
Representative Ilhan Omar has rejected claims that she married her former husband to commit immigration fraud.
Her statements came during her first media interview since federal agents searched her Washington residence.
Appearing Wednesday on MS NOW with host Chris Hayes, the Minnesota Democrat addressed the ongoing federal investigation into whether she made false statements on her immigration and naturalization documents, Fox News reports.
Statement on Familial Relation Claims
During the broadcast, Omar was asked directly if she shares any blood relation with her ex-husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, following longstanding rumors suggesting he might be her brother.
Omar responded, “Not to my knowledge,” according to MS NOW, cited by Fox News.
She attributed the origin of the claims to online commentary. “It all started with the Somali blog.”
She refers to SomaliSpot, an online forum where an anonymous post in 2016 first started the rumors about her marriage, according to Snopes.
“Somebody put it there, that he had to have been my brother or something to that effect,” Omar said.
Federal Search and Investigation
Early on the morning of Oct. 12, Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a court-authorized search warrant at Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence, approved by U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh.
As part of the probe, authorities have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas—including to members of Omar’s family—and seized her mobile phone.
Investigators also interviewed her sister, Sahra Noor, following the search, according to Fox News.
The Department of Justice has not released specific formal charges. Omar denies all allegations of wrongdoing and has characterized the investigation as politically motivated and intended to intimidate voters.
Review of Campaign Finances
In addition to the naturalization inquiry, federal prosecutors are conducting a separate probe into Omar’s campaign spending and financial disclosures.
The financial investigation initially began in 2024. Complaints regarding discrepancies in her wealth reporting were previously dismissed by congressional ethics officials, but U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced last week that authorities outside Capitol Hill are moving forward with the matter.
Both investigations remain ongoing, according to Fox News.
Relocation Following Safety and Privacy Concerns
Following the federal operation, Representative Omar stated that she is leaving her Washington, D.C., home due to safety concerns after her address was publicly exposed during the raid.
As we previously reported, Omar noted that ongoing death threats make it unfeasible to continue living in the residence or to have her children visit.
She characterized the raid as a political abuse of power, while former President Donald Trump stated that the investigation “has nothing to do with me.”
Meanwhile, Omar’s legal team has launched a challenge to contest the search warrant and request the return of seized items, including laptops and personal documents. No criminal charges have been filed to date.
