Senate Republicans Challenge Rep. Ilhan Omar Over Allegations
Senate Republican leaders contended that if Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-Minn.) claims about marrying her brother to gain U.S. entry are accurate, she could be infringing upon multiple laws.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) entered the fray on Friday, reigniting longstanding accusations against Omar, following remarks made by President Donald Trump at an affordability rally in Pennsylvania earlier in the week.
Cruz pointedly stated, “If this is true, Ms. Omar would be subject to criminal charges under three different laws,” listing both federal and Minnesota state laws that she could potentially violate.
He outlined that Omar might face charges of federal marriage fraud, suggesting that intentionally marrying someone to circumvent immigration law is a felony that could carry a prison sentence of up to five years, alongside hefty fines and deportation.
Born in Somalia, Omar arrived in the U.S. in 1995, after her family was granted asylum, and became a citizen in 2000. She has been married three times: first to Ahmed Abdisaran Hirsi in 2002, then to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi in 2009 before divorcing and marrying Hirsi again. Most recently, she wed political aide Tim Mynett in 2020.
Cruz also claimed that Omar might be violating Minnesota’s incest laws, noting that such violations can lead to substantial prison time. Furthermore, he raised concerns about potential tax evasion, suggesting that if she filed a joint tax return without being legally wed, she could face fines and imprisonment.
The discussion around these allegations has intensified since Trump brought them to light, insisting that Omar had married her brother for immigration purposes, a claim she has categorically denied.
Despite the gravity of these assertions, Trump criticized Omar in a statement, commenting, “If I married my sister to get citizenship, do you think I would live two hours or less? She married my brother to get citizenship,” further asserting that she should leave the country altogether.
As of now, there has been no official response from Omar’s office regarding these allegations.
