U.S. Representative [Ilhan Omar](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilhan_Omar) told MS NOW host Chris Hayes on Thursday that, to her knowledge, she never married her brother, rejecting a long‑standing rumor that she helped a sibling obtain U.S. immigration status. "Not to my knowledge," she said when asked if any "weird kernel of truth" existed behind the allegation.
**What did Omar say about the allegation?**
Omar explained that the story first appeared on a Somali‑language blog many years ago and that it was based on a misunderstanding. She said bloggers had "found random people" who claimed she introduced a man as her brother, a notion she described as "insane." The alleged brother is identified as Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, but Omar has consistently denied any marital relationship with him.
**What triggered the federal raid on her home?**
On October 12, federal agents executed a search warrant at Omar's Washington, D.C., residence. The operation was part of a criminal investigation into possible immigration fraud, including whether Omar or her late father gave false statements on paperwork when the family arrived as Somali refugees in 1995 or during her naturalisation process in 2000.
**Which agencies are conducting the probe?**
The inquiry is being led by [Homeland Security Investigations](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeland_Security_Investigations), the investigative arm of [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_and_Customs_Enforcement). According to the search warrant, potential offences include conspiracy, immigration fraud and making false statements on immigration documents. The Associated Press reported that agents also seized Omar’s phone and issued grand‑jury subpoenas to several relatives.
**How did Omar respond to questions about her finances?**
When Hayes asked about recent reports suggesting Omar and her husband possessed a combined net worth of about $30 million, Omar described herself as "working class" and living "paycheck to paycheck." She said she drives a 2016 Toyota Camry, rents her homes in D.C. and Minneapolis, and that many members of Congress do not come from wealth.
Omar, a Democrat representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District since 2019 and the first Somali‑American elected to the U.S. House, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. She has accused the current administration of using federal law‑enforcement tools to target political opponents, maintaining that the investigation is politically motivated.
The case remains ongoing, with no charges filed to date. Further developments will depend on the outcome of the grand‑jury proceedings and any additional evidence gathered by the investigators.