An FBI investigation conducted during former President Barack Obama’s administration reportedly uncovered evidence suggesting Rep. Ilhan Omar may have entered a fraudulent marriage with a man alleged to be her brother, according to new reporting that has revived one of the most controversial allegations surrounding the Minnesota Democrat.
The revelations come as federal authorities under President Donald Trump conduct a renewed investigation into Omar’s immigration history, examining questions about her marriage, citizenship records and family background.
According to The New York Times, FBI and Department of Homeland Security investigators examined Omar’s marriage to British citizen Ahmed Nur Said Elmi in 2016 and discovered evidence suggesting possible immigration fraud.
The investigation also reportedly uncovered information supporting suspicions that Elmi could be related to Omar.
However, prosecutors ultimately declined to pursue charges after determining that potential offenses fell outside the applicable five-year statute of limitations.
The decision meant the investigation did not produce a criminal prosecution.
Omar has consistently denied the allegations, describing claims that she married her brother as a conspiracy theory.
The congresswoman legally married Elmi in February 2009 in Minnesota.
The couple separated in 2011 but did not finalize their divorce until December 2017.
For years, critics have alleged that the marriage was arranged to help Elmi obtain immigration benefits in the United States.
Questions about the relationship have remained politically contentious, particularly because of accusations that Elmi was Omar’s biological brother.
The latest reporting indicates that federal investigators examined those allegations years before Trump returned to the White House.
But the findings were not uniform.
A separate investigation conducted in 2019, during Trump’s first administration, reportedly reached a different conclusion.
Three former immigration officials told The Washington Post that investigators found insufficient evidence of wrongdoing and identified no problems with Omar’s naturalization.
That review examined several issues now facing renewed scrutiny, including her marriage history, reported discrepancies involving her age and questions about her father’s immigration records.
The conflicting accounts have become particularly significant as the current federal inquiry intensifies.
According to the reporting, authorities are examining whether Omar or her father, Nur Omar Mohamed, intentionally provided inaccurate information about her birth date during the immigration process, per the Daily Mail.
Official records have reportedly listed Omar’s birth year as both 1981 and 1982.
Investigators are reviewing whether those discrepancies could have affected her eligibility for citizenship through her father, who became a naturalized American citizen in 2000.
They are also examining allegations that her father may have omitted or misrepresented information about his military service in Somalia.
Omar was born in Somalia and arrived in the United States with her family in 1995.
The investigation has reportedly expanded beyond reviewing historical records.
Federal agents searched Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence on October 12 as part of the criminal inquiry.
According to the account, investigators seized her phone and passport, while more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas have been issued, including some involving relatives.
The Justice Department has not announced criminal charges against the congresswoman.
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin also addressed the investigation during an October 16 interview on The Charlie Kirk Show.
Mullin indicated that investigators expected to present the matter to a grand jury, although his remarks did not establish that prosecutors had decided to charge Omar.
Meanwhile, Trump has repeatedly criticized the congresswoman over the marriage allegations.
During an October 22 rally in Iowa, the president seized on remarks Omar made during an interview with MS NOW’s Chris Hayes.
Asked whether Elmi could have been related to her, Omar responded, “Not to my knowledge.”
Trump mocked the response before demanding that Omar resign from Congress.
“She didn’t know whether or not she married her brother. She wasn’t sure,” Trump told supporters, calling it “one of the worst answers I think I’ve ever heard.”
Omar, however, has maintained that the allegations are false.
She has also accused the Trump administration of using the investigation to intimidate her because of her criticism of the president.
Trump has denied involvement in the search of her home, while administration officials maintain that law enforcement decisions are based on evidence and applicable law.
Federal prosecutors have also sought to keep the search warrant application sealed, arguing that releasing the material could jeopardize the investigation.
They have indicated that decisions about potential charges remain unresolved.
The new reporting adds a significant historical dimension to the controversy by revealing that federal investigators examined possible marriage fraud during Obama’s presidency.
But the earlier investigation did not result in charges, and the separate 2019 review reportedly found insufficient evidence of wrongdoing.
As federal scrutiny continues, the central allegations concerning Omar’s marriage and citizenship remain disputed, with investigators still determining whether the evidence supports criminal prosecution.
