Representative Ilhan Omar addressed long-standing questions regarding her marriage history and personal finances during a recent television appearance, declining to give a direct denial when asked about unproven allegations concerning her former husband.
Appearing in an interview on Wednesday with commentator Chris Hayes, the Minnesota Democrat was asked whether there was any truth to claims that her ex-husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, is her biological brother. When Hayes asked if she was related to Elmi at all, Omar responded, “Not to my knowledge.” The interviewer did not press the congresswoman with any follow-up questions.
Omar attributed the origins of the allegations to internet sources and political opponents. She stated that the rumors began on a Somali blog before being amplified by conservative activists in Minneapolis. Omar married Elmi in 2009, separated from him in 2011, and legally divorced him in 2017. While she has previously characterized the claims as absurd and offensive, the scrutiny surrounding her past marriages and immigration history persists.
The response drew public attention, including from former President Donald Trump, who remarked during a Thursday night appearance that the congresswoman’s reply was not reassuring.
The interview also touched on the financial disclosures of Omar and her current husband. Hayes questioned the congresswoman about a previously reported net worth figure of $30 million associated with her husband, which was later retracted and attributed to an accounting error. Omar maintained that her household finances reflect a standard working-class lifestyle, noting that they live paycheck to paycheck with four children, drive a 2016 Toyota Camry, and rent their residences in both Washington, D.C., and Minneapolis.
Meanwhile, court filings released on Wednesday indicate that the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation into the congresswoman regarding suspected immigration fraud remains active. Federal investigators have reportedly obtained DNA evidence as part of the ongoing probe and are working to execute a search warrant authorized for Omar’s Washington, D.C., home.
