Minnesota’s Somali-American congresswoman Ilhan Omar has survived one political controversy after another, always with the protection of the Democratic establishment. From invoking antisemitic stereotypes to her past remarks about 9/11, Omar has repeatedly weathered scandals.
But that protection may now be at risk of collapse.
On Oct. 12, federal officials raided her Washington, D.C., home as part of a court-authorized investigation into alleged immigration fraud and conspiracy. Investigators are reportedly examining whether Omar’s marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, a Somali-British man long rumored to be her brother, was part of a scheme to defraud U.S. immigration authorities.
Omar’s family immigration history, unusual marital arrangements and questions surrounding her changing identity and age have fueled years of speculation about whether she misled government officials and the public about her past.
The allegations that Omar married Elmi for immigration fraud aren’t remotely new. A decade ago, I followed investigative reporting by Preya Samsundar and others at Alpha News on this case.
That reporting was dismissed and smeared by the liberal media and political establishment. Years went by. But on Oct. 29, 2026, The New York Times revealed that the FBI and Department of Homeland Security had investigated Omar’s marriage to Elmi during the Obama administration in 2016 and found compelling evidence.
According to the Times, investigators believed the marriage was fraudulent and that Elmi is her brother. Omar was never charged, however, and she has consistently denied wrongdoing.
Omar previously used a 2016 letter from then-Minnesota U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger to dismiss the allegations. But Luger told the paper in the new report that his letter “was never meant to say anything about the substance of the claims.”
Elmi returned to the United Kingdom a few years after marrying Omar.
When I first saw photographs of him years ago, printed in news stories, I remember immediately thinking: He’s gay.
I’m a gay man, and I’ve long been familiar with the facial expressions and mannerisms sometimes described as “gay face.” I have it myself, and I spot it in my interview recordings when I am more relaxed and casual. Elmi’s flamboyant clothing, poses and presentation also struck me as familiar.
I noticed the striking facial resemblance between him and his ex-wife. To my eyes, they look like siblings.
On Oct. 21, MS NOW’s Chris Hayes gave Omar a friendly interview following the raid on her home. He asked her directly whether she was related to Elmi.
Her response?
“Not to my knowledge.”
There’s another part of this story I’ve never shared publicly.
Elmi lives in the greater London area. So do I, after becoming an exile following Antifa’s attempts on my life in Portland, Ore.
A few years ago, while browsing the gay section of the dating app Tinder (I’m single!), I came across a profile of a man using the name “Ahmadán.”
I immediately recognized his face.
The account had Ahmed Nur Said Elmi’s photos.
The allegations surrounding the Somali congresswoman and her ex-husband/rumored brother received very little media attention in Britain, so I wondered whether he felt more comfortable presenting himself openly here, far from the American political controversy.
