Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has rejected allegations that she married her brother to commit immigration fraud, describing the claims as an unfounded conspiracy theory during an interview with MS NOW host Chris Hayes.
The Minnesota representative, 44, was questioned about her former marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi during her first major interview since federal investigators searched her Washington, DC, residence.
When Hayes asked whether there was any possibility that she and Elmi were related, Omar replied, “Not to my knowledge.”
The exchange came amid renewed scrutiny of the long-running allegations, which President Donald Trump and other political opponents have repeatedly raised.
Hayes acknowledged the seriousness of the accusations before asking Omar about the origins of the claims and her relationship with Elmi.
“There are right wing people who believe that this man was your brother. You have called it a disgusting lie,” he told her.
Congresswoman blames Somali blog for spreading allegations
Omar said the allegations originated on a Somali blog before being circulated by conservative activists in Minneapolis.
She explained that someone had published a claim suggesting Elmi must have been her brother, which right-wing conspiracy theorists subsequently amplified.
According to Omar, her critics also cited individuals who allegedly claimed she had introduced Elmi to them as her sibling.
“And they just kind of went and found random people who were like, ‘She introduced us. She introduced him to us and said he was her brother,’ which is, you know, insane,” she said.
Omar added that she did not recognise the individuals being cited in connection with the allegations.
She has consistently denied that Elmi was her brother.
The pair married in 2009 and divorced in 2017.
No established evidence has demonstrated that they were siblings.
Federal agents seize belongings during search of Omar’s home
The interview also covered the federal search of Omar’s Washington residence, where Homeland Security Investigations agents seized personal belongings as part of an ongoing investigation.
Omar said between 15 and 25 agents arrived at approximately 6am while she and her family were sleeping.
She recalled having slept for only two and a half hours before agents began pounding on the doors.
Initially, she believed an emergency might be taking place nearby.
“I thought something was on fire. I thought something was happening to the neighbors,” she said.
Omar said the search lasted between four and five hours, with investigators removing 17 items from the property.
The seized belongings included several phones, computers, notebooks, a vintage camera and a book written in Somali.
She described the operation as “intrusive but polite”, noting that agents handled her possessions carefully and even folded some of her clothes.
However, she questioned the purpose of the operation, alleging that the Trump administration wanted to demonstrate to the president’s supporters that her home had been raided.
“They had to do something, I believe, to say, hey, look, we raided her house,” she said.
Investigation examines possible immigration fraud
Federal investigators are examining possible immigration fraud, including whether false statements were made in immigration documents concerning Omar’s date of birth.
The Minnesota US Attorney’s Office is investigating the matter, and authorities have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including some involving members of Omar’s family.
Omar maintains that she legally obtained American citizenship at the age of 17 through her father, Nur Omar Mohamed, who became a naturalised US citizen in 2000.
She suggested investigators were focusing on documents completed by her late father, who is no longer alive to respond to questions about them.
“It’s also very convenient because my dad is no longer alive,” she told Hayes. “So it’s another thing they can drag on forever.”
Trump has publicly accused Omar of immigration fraud and suggested she could face imprisonment if investigators establish wrongdoing.
“She could go to jail,” the president said on Tuesday, adding that deportation had also been discussed.
Omar has denied committing any wrongdoing and accused the administration of pursuing a politically motivated investigation against her.
Omar rejects claims of hidden family wealth
During the interview, Omar also addressed questions about her family’s finances after congressional disclosure documents appeared to value business interests associated with her husband, political consultant Tim Mynett, at approximately $30 million.
The reported valuation was subsequently revised substantially downward after liabilities were taken into account.
Hayes said the adjusted figure was approximately $20,000.
Omar rejected suggestions that she was secretly wealthy, describing her household as a working-class family managing everyday expenses.
“I mean, it’s, you know, working, working class, I guess, like paycheck to paycheck still,” she said.
“We’ve got four kids. And, you know, we live, I think, like a basic life.”
She pointed to the family’s vehicle and housing arrangements as examples of their lifestyle, saying they owned only one car, a 2016 Toyota Camry.
Omar also said she rented both her Washington residence and her home in Minneapolis.
Congresswoman plans to leave Washington residence
Omar revealed that she intends to leave her Washington home after its address became public following the federal search.
She cited recurring death threats and concerns about protecting her family’s privacy and security as reasons for the decision.
“I can’t continue to live there,” she said.
The congresswoman did not indicate that she intended to leave public office, despite the investigation and the continuing political controversy surrounding her.
Omar accuses Trump administration of trying to remove her from Congress
Omar maintained that the investigation was politically motivated and alleged that her opponents wanted to force her out of Congress.
She argued that the president’s campaign against her was connected to resentment over her background and faith.
“I think that’s ultimately the thing that they want,” she said, insisting that she would not be driven out of office by the pressure surrounding the investigation.
