Federal investigators found evidence of Omar sham marriage claim

Summarised from 3 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 29 Oct, 14:12 · Archive

Federal investigators found evidence during a 2016 probe that Congresswoman Ilhan Omar entered a sham marriage with Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, according to the New York Post, citing a source familiar with the investigation. The case stalled after prosecutors concluded any potential crime fell outside the five-year statute of limitations. A source told the Post that the investigation was shut down after a Biden-appointed US Attorney took office in Minnesota in 2021.

The Post reported that Elmi came to live with Omar and her first husband, Ahmed Hirsi, in Minnesota in 2009. A friend of Hirsi described Elmi as an "extremely feminine Somali guy" who wore tight female clothing. According to the source, when asked about Elmi, Hirsi said "it was his wife's brother from London" and that Omar had "embarrassed all of us by bringing him here", using "very strong words" to call the situation "disgusting".

Omar has repeatedly insisted that allegations she married her brother to help him obtain a green card are a racist conspiracy theory promoted by the far-right. She was pursuing a seat in Minnesota's legislature at the time the 2016 investigation was launched.

How it is being reported

• Obama claims probe into Ilhan Omar ‘sham marriage’ is ‘appalling’ — but was actually started under his adminIn 2016, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security uncovered evidence that Omar's (D-Minn.) marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, long speculated to be her brother, was fraudulent.New York Post · 29 Oct, 17:09
• Obama admin first launched the investigation into Ilhan Omar's alleged brother marriageThe FBI probe into whether Ilhan Omar married her brother began under Barack Obama in 2016, but a Biden-appointed attorney shut it down in 2021.Fox News · 29 Oct, 15:05
• FBI under Obama found evidence Ilhan Omar entered 'sham marriage' with her suspected brother, explosive report revealsPresident Trump has repeatedly claimed that Ilhan Omar married her brother, and the speculation was previously investigated during a Democratic admDaily Mail · 29 Oct, 13:58
• Feds found evidence Ilhan Omar was in sham marriage with her ‘brother’ during 2016 probeFederal probes found evidence Rep. Ilhan Omar entered a sham marriage with Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, but the case hit a statute of limitations.New York Post · 29 Oct, 13:18
• Ilhan Omar’s Muslim husband ‘disgusted’ by ‘dirty dandy brother’ she wed coming to live with them: sourceIlhan Omar’s first husband was “embarrassed” when her effeminate “brother” — who she is accused of marrying — came to live with them in Minnesota, a family friend told The Post. The congresswoman (D-Minn.) had two young children with Ahmed Hirsi, when she suddenly split from him in 2009. She then quickly married an “extremely...New York Post · 28 Oct, 23:34

In this story: Ilhan Omar · Ahmed Nur Said Elmi · Ahmed Hirsi · FBI · Department of Homeland Security · Minnesota

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log