Ilhan Omar Says She Has No Knowledge of Being Married to Her Brother

On MS NOW’s “All In with Chris Hayes,” Rep. Ilhan Omar was asked if she was married to her brother, a claim that has resurfaced after the Department of Justice opened an immigration investigation in mid-October. Omar answered that she does not believe her ex-husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, is her sibling, saying “not to my knowledge.” The FBI raided her residence on Oct. 12 and issued subpoenas to dozens of relatives to examine whether her late father, Nur Omar Mohamed, misrepresented information on immigration forms, including her age at naturalization in 2000.

Federal prosecutors are said to be preparing DNA analysis to test the brother-marriage allegation. Omar has denounced the probe as a politically motivated intimidation campaign, referencing past attacks she says began under the Trump administration. Legal scholars noted that any legislation she helped pass would likely remain valid under the de facto officer doctrine, even if she were later found ineligible.