Minnesota DFL Operative Backs Ilhan Omar Immigration Fraud Claims

Joe Radinovich, a former Minnesota state representative, stated on Thursday that the federal allegation that Rep. Ilhan Omar married her brother is likely true. Radinovich, who served in the state House from 2013 to 2015, posted on X that he is confident in the specific claim despite his skepticism of the current Department of Justice.

He argued that Democrats should accept the core allegation as factual, even if they debate the political implications. Radinovich noted that Omar’s denials, which he described as a right-wing conspiracy, are likely incorrect. He also expressed concern over ongoing investigations into Omar’s finances, stating that public answers to questions about those funds have been lacking.

The comments come as scrutiny of Omar intensifies. Homeland Security Investigations raided her Washington, D.C., home on Oct. 12, 2026. Agents seized her passport, phone, and computer during the early-morning operation. Sources told Fox News Digital that the probe stems from questions about whether Omar or her late father, Nur Mohamed, fraudulently filled out her citizenship paperwork decades ago.

Court filings from the U.S. Attorney's Office in the District of Columbia refer to Omar as "Ilhan Omar Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Omar." This suggests she shares a surname with Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, the man she married in 2009. Elmi is a British citizen. Investigators are reportedly in possession of Omar's DNA, and her sister, Sahra Noor, submitted to questioning shortly after the raid.

Radinovich has a history of challenging Omar in Democratic primaries. He worked with candidate Don Samuels in 2022 and 2024, and Samuels lost both bids. Despite this connection, Radinovich acknowledged the credibility issues with the Trump administration's Department of Justice. He said he is unclear on the timing of the raid, though he noted a D.C. judge signed off on it.

Briana Rose Lee, a Minneapolis DFL activist who served as an operations director for Omar's campaign, responded to Radinovich's post. She called the probe a "baseless and manufactured witch hunt" and expressed surprise at his shift in stance. Omar's campaign criticized Radinovich on Friday, labeling him a "deeply troubled individual" with an "irrational obsession" following his management of two losing campaigns against the congresswoman.

Former President Barack Obama's administration opened a probe into the allegedly fraudulent marriage in 2016. The investigation remained open until 2021, when the Biden administration closed it. One source told Fox News Digital that investigators believed the statute of limitations for a potential crime had passed. No criminal charges have been filed against Omar, who has attributed the renewed scrutiny to a political vendetta by President Donald Trump.