Are the walls finally closing in on Ilhan Omar?
By Easton Martin
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., announced she plans to move out of her Washington, D.C., residence after federal agents searched the property as part of an ongoing criminal investigation. The congresswoman made the announcement during a Wednesday interview with MS NOW, where she also addressed renewed questions about her former marriage and allegations involving her immigration history.
Omar said the search and subsequent death threats have made it difficult for her family to remain at the residence. Federal agents executed a court-authorized search warrant on October 12, reportedly seizing electronic devices, notebooks and other personal items. Authorities have not publicly detailed the full scope of the investigation.
According to reporting by The Associated Press, federal authorities are investigating potential fraud involving immigration paperwork connected to Omar’s family. Investigators have also reportedly issued grand jury subpoenas to relatives, and CNN reported that authorities interviewed Omar’s sister, Sahra Noor.
Omar has denied wrongdoing and described the investigation as “politically motivated”. However, the federal investigation places renewed attention on questions surrounding her immigration history and family relationships that have followed her throughout her political career.
During Wednesday’s interview, host Chris Hayes also questioned Omar about longstanding allegations that she married her former husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, who some have alleged was her biological brother. Omar called the accusation “insane” and said the rumor originated with a Somali blog before spreading online.
When asked whether she was related to Elmi, Omar responded, “Not to my knowledge.” The answer is likely to generate further questions because it did not amount to an unequivocal denial of any familial relationship. However, the allegation itself remains unproven, and Omar has repeatedly rejected claims that she entered the marriage to commit immigration fraud.
The congresswoman also addressed questions about her family’s finances during the interview. Earlier this year, she amended financial disclosure forms after a previous filing listed a substantially higher potential valuation for businesses associated with her husband, political consultant Tim Mynett. Her amended filing reported a considerably lower range for the couple’s joint assets.
