California Winery Co-Owned by Ilhan Omar’s Husband Closes
A winery in California, co-owned by Tim Mynett—who is married to Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar—has shut down for good. This closure comes amid increasing scrutiny over financial disclosures related to Omar’s family’s assets.
The winery reportedly stopped operations on April 4, shortly after a Republican inquiry raised questions about inconsistencies in Omar’s financial disclosures for the upcoming 2024 Congressional reporting period compared to the previous year.
In a February letter, James Comer, the House Oversight Committee Chairman, pointed out to Mynett that the financial records indicated an alarming rise in the value of their ownership in eStCru LLC and Rose Lake Capital LLC, jumping from $51,000 in 2023 to potentially $30 million in 2024.
Comer highlighted that such an increase in value, especially within just a year, caused significant public concern regarding how these entities could have transformed so dramatically given their prior limited assets.
He also noted that because these companies don’t disclose their investors or funding sources, this rapid valuation change raises suspicions about whether unknown individuals might be attempting to exert influence over Omar.
This week, Omar stated that her and Mynett’s actual net worth is significantly lower, estimated at under $100,000, contesting the figures presented and attributing the discrepancy to accounting errors.
Mynett’s winery venture was initiated in the fall of 2021 after he closed his previous consulting business.
Interestingly, this winery wasn’t a conventional brick-and-mortar establishment. Instead, it functioned as a label subcontracting out its bottling to various West Coast producers. A spokesperson confirmed the winery’s closure when contacted earlier this year.
Concerns have been raised about the winery’s business model, particularly since many on social media have reported difficulties accessing the winery’s website, which appears to have vanished, and have been unable to make purchases for an extended period.
Comments from users reflect mounting skepticism, with one person pointing out the inability to find an avenue to buy the wine, suggesting something seemed off about its legitimacy.
Another user echoed this sentiment, expressing a desire to sample their wines but frustration at the lack of known distributors.
Some have even gone as far as to label it a scam, highlighting discrepancies in contact information and the overall absence of operational transparency.
Despite being named “Brand of the Year” in 2022, the winery’s brief run was marred by controversies; by early 2023, reports indicated unpaid salaries for winemakers and a lack of social media promotion for the brand.
A report from 2024 noted that the company faced multiple fraud claims and lawsuits from investors, alongside accounts from former employees alleging non-payment.
