President Donald Trump noted that Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) was allegedly married to her brother, a claim that hasn’t been fully substantiated but that some evidence indicates may be true.
“There’s a lot of talk about the fact that she was married to her brother,” Trump said in response to a question on July 17 before departing Washington to a rally.
“I know nothing about it. I hear she was married to her brother,” he added.
“You’re asking me a question about it. I don’t know, but I’m sure that somebody would be looking at that.”
Claims that Omar married her brother in order to get him citizenship have been extensively examined by several blogs and media outlets.
“I can’t even begin to recall who those people are, to be honest. I’m sure we were introduced, but I wasn’t even aware that the picture existed,” he said about a picture in which he and Omar are standing near each other smiling.
The website cited multiple sources “inside the close-knit Somali community that Ilhan Omar and Ahmed Nur Said Elmi are indeed brother and sister.”
According to the website, the U.S. Attorney’s Department said it would not be investigating the alleged marriage fraud.
The payment, $1,500, was for services related to 2014 and 2015 joint tax returns for her and her current husband, Ahmed Hirsi, who she married in 2018. A second payment of $750 noted in the probe was to made to Omar’s lawyers for obtaining immigration records.
Omar had filed joint tax returns with Hursi despite still being legally married to Elmi. Authorities said Omar and Hirsi filed joint tax returns in both 2014 and 2015. Omar and Elmi were not divorced until 2017.
Omar said she and Hirsi split in 2008 after they had two children together, after which she married Elmi who she said is a British citizen on Feb. 12, 2009, according to a marriage certificate.
Omar said she and Elmi split in 2011 but they didn’t officially get divorced until 2017. Omar and Hirsi got back together in June 2012, according to divorce records. Omar and Hirsi got married in early 2018, about a month after the divorce from Elmi was finalized.
Omar released a statement about the accusations about marriage fraud.
She said the timeline she offered was for “clarity” and that she hoped “we can put these rumors to rest.”
“Ilhan has shared more than most public officials ever do about the details of her personal life—even when it is personally painful,” he continued. “Whether by colluding with right-wing outlets to go after Muslim elected officials or hounding family members, legitimate media outlets have a responsibility not to fan the flames of hate. Continuing to do so is not only demeaning to Ilhan, but to her entire family.”