Obama-Era Feds Reportedly Had Evidence Indicating Ilhan Omar’s Alleged Marriage To Brother Was Fraudulent

Federal authorities during former President Barack Obama’s administration reportedly found evidence that Democratic Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar entered into a fraudulent marriage, The New York Times reported Thursday.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) found some evidence in 2016 that Omar’s marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, her alleged brother, was a sham to help him obtain a green card, former and current officials told the Times. The case stalled after prosecutors determined it fell outside of the five-year statute of limitations.

Omar married Said Elmi in 2009 and their marriage ended in 2017. Marrying anyone for the purpose of obtaining a green card is illegal under federal law, while marrying a sibling is illegal under state law. It is unclear whether the man Omar married was her brother.

Omar told MS NOW’s Chris Hayes that she did not marry her brother “to knowledge.” The congresswoman previously denied allegations that she married her brother, telling Minnesota Public Radio in 2016 that any insinuations are “absurd and offensive.”

It is unclear whether federal prosecutors could skirt the statute of limitations and charge Omar, according to the Times.

The FBI raided Omar’s home on Oct. 12 and subpoenaed dozens of individuals, including Omar’s relatives, to investigate her immigration status. The investigation will look into whether Omar’s late father, Nur Omar Mohamed, lied or omitted information in immigration forms before becoming a U.S. citizen, including his daughter’s age.