Prominent Minnesota Democrat Breaks Ranks Over Ilhan Omar Investigation
Andrew Powell · Oct 30, 2026 · 2 min read
A former Minnesota Democratic lawmaker is publicly questioning Rep. Ilhan Omar's denials of allegations surrounding her marriage and immigration history, adding to the growing scrutiny facing the congresswoman.
According to Fox News, Joe Radinovich, who previously served in the Minnesota House of Representatives as a member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, made the comments on Thursday in a post on X.
He argued that Democrats should take the allegations seriously rather than dismissing them as politically motivated attacks.
"Democrats should understand that the allegation is almost certainly true—whatever conclusion they draw from that point could vary—and her denials calling it a right-wing, Islamophobic or racist conspiracy are almost certainly not," Radinovich wrote.
The allegations center on claims that Omar married her brother, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, in 2009 as part of an immigration fraud scheme. Omar has repeatedly denied the accusations and characterized them as a politically motivated smear.
Radinovich also raised concerns about separate questions surrounding Omar's finances, saying her public explanations had not adequately addressed the issues.
His criticism drew a sharp response from Briana Rose Lee, a Minneapolis DFL activist who previously worked in Omar's campaign operation. Lee accused Radinovich of promoting a manufactured political attack.
Radinovich acknowledged his distrust of the Trump administration's Justice Department but maintained that he believes the specific allegations against Omar have credibility.
The former lawmaker has longstanding connections within Minnesota Democratic politics. He managed Rick Nolan's 2016 congressional campaign, helped lead Jacob Frey's successful Minneapolis mayoral campaign in 2017 and later served as Frey's chief of staff.