Rep. Ilhan Omar, a left-wing “Squad” member facing a federal probe over immigration fraud, gave a tepid denial to the long-circulating rumors that she married her brother to facilitate his entry into the U.S.
The Somali native and practicing Muslim told MS NOW that she is aware of the claims that she is related to her second husband, whom she married in a Christian ceremony on Feb. 12, 2009.
Ms. Omar responded, “Not to my knowledge,” when asked if she is related in any way to her second husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi.
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The two separated in 2011 and finalized their divorce in 2017.
Ms. Omar said the rumor started “with a Somali blog,” and then “right-wing conspiracy theorists got a hold of it,” and started circulating the claim more broadly.
“They kind of went and, like, found random people who were like, ’She introduced him to us and said he was her brother,’” Ms. Omar said. “Which is, you know, insane.”
Federal authorities are now scrutinizing how the Minnesota Democrat obtained her citizenship after arriving in the U.S. in 1995.
Investigators are looking into the actions of both Ms. Omar and her deceased father, who was from Somalia and brought her to the U.S. from a refugee camp in Kenya.
Federal agents last week raided her home in the District of Columbia, seizing her cellphone, personal computers, cameras, notebooks and her passport.
Ms. Omar refuted reports that investigators obtained her DNA during the search of her home.
“I would have seen if they did take anything that contained DNA,” she said.
No criminal charges have been filed.
The investigation is linked to allegations that Ms. Omar, 44, shaved years off her actual age to more easily qualify for citizenship and then entered into a sham marriage with her brother to gain access to immigration benefits.
She’s also under investigation for falsifying financial disclosures to Congress related to two companies owned by her third husband, Timothy Mynett.
President Trump this week weighed in on the investigation into Ms. Omar, who was elected to the House in 2018 and has been a staunch critic of the president.
“You know, they keep talking about deportation. No, she could go to jail,” the president said on Tuesday.
Mr. Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, told Fox News Ms. Omar could be deported if investigators prove she committed immigration fraud.
“I’m not going to get ahead of the bureau or HSI, but I’ve been told they have a strong case, and we’ll let the evidence lead where it leads,” Mr. Homan said.
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