Obama-Era Feds Reportedly Probed Ilhan Omar's Alleged Sham Marriage
Federal investigators found some evidence in 2016 that Rep. Ilhan Omar's marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi was a sham. Current and former officials described the finding to The New York Times.
5-year statute of limitations led prosecutors to drop the 2016 case.
Officials did not specify what evidence the 2016 investigators found.
2019 review under Trump found insufficient evidence of wrongdoing, per three former officials.
Omar married Elmi in 2009 and legally divorced him in December 2017.
Why it matters: The 2016 findings surface as the Justice Department pursues a separate criminal investigation into Omar and her family's immigration records. Federal agents searched her Washington home on October 12 and seized her phone and passport.
Investigators are examining whether her age was misstated to secure citizenship through her father.
A civil case to revoke citizenship faces no criminal statute of limitations.
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Political Bias
Coverage by lean% of 34 sources
34 sources · 62 articles · 73% Right coverage
Where they split: The dispute is whether the 2016 findings show a case cut short by a technicality or an old allegation revived for political ends before the midterms.
Center coverage, 4 sources: The center frames the story as a newly reported finding set against Omar's denials and questions about the timing of aggressive steps before the midterms.
Right coverage, 25 sources: The right frames the report as proof that the allegations predate Trump, undercutting Democratic claims of political persecution.