MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA — Federal investigators examined Rep. Ilhan Omar’s 2009 marriage during the Obama administration and reportedly found evidence suggesting the marriage may have been fraudulent, according to current and former officials cited by The New York Times.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security opened the inquiry in 2016 while Omar was running for the Minnesota Legislature. Investigators reportedly examined whether her marriage to British citizen Ahmed Nur Said Elmi was arranged to obtain immigration benefits. Prosecutors ultimately did not bring charges, reportedly concluding that a potential marriage-fraud offense had exceeded its five-year statute of limitations.
Importantly, the report does not establish that Elmi was Omar’s brother, despite some right-wing outlets presenting that allegation as confirmed. Officials cited by the Times reportedly said investigators found information suggesting a possible sibling relationship, but no court, government agency or publicly available documentation has established that Elmi was Omar’s brother.
Omar has consistently denied both marriage fraud and the sibling allegation and has never been charged over the marriage.
Independent fact-checkers have also been unable to substantiate the brother claim. Snopes reiterated this week that the allegation remains unsupported by conclusive evidence, while PolitiFact’s previous examination found circumstantial questions surrounding the marriage but “no smoking gun” demonstrating that Omar married her brother.
The renewed attention comes as the Trump administration conducts a separate investigation into Omar’s immigration history.
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