Ilhan Omar admits uncertainty on family ties amid immigration fraud probe

Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota admitted on Wednesday that she is unaware of any familial relationship with her former husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, during an interview with MS Now host Chris Hayes. The statement came as Omar denied claims that she married Elmi to commit immigration fraud, marking her first media appearance since federal agents searched her Washington, D.C., residence on Oct. 12.

Omar attributed the rumors of a sibling relationship to a "Somali blog," stating that an unnamed party posted the claim. She pushed back against the allegation, saying, "Not to my knowledge" when asked directly about any familial connection. The congresswoman has denied wrongdoing and characterized the ongoing investigation as politically motivated.

The search was executed by Homeland Security Investigations agents under a court-authorized warrant approved by U.S. Magistrate Judge Matthew J. Sharbaugh of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The warrant was part of a federal criminal investigation into possible false statements in Omar's immigration and naturalization documents. The Justice Department has not publicly detailed the specific allegations within that case.

According to The Associated Press, federal authorities issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, which included members of Omar's family. Investigators also seized Omar's cellphone during the operation. Fox News Digital reported that Omar's sister, Sahra Noor, spoke with federal investigators last week following the raid. Omar's office has not responded to Fox News Digital's repeated requests for comment regarding the investigations.

A separate inquiry is examining Omar's campaign finances and financial disclosures. U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro announced last week that this investigation began during the Biden administration in 2024. The probe follows a complaint regarding a wealth disparity in her disclosures, which was previously dismissed by congressional ethics officials but is now under review by authorities outside the Capitol. Both investigations remain ongoing.