Rep. Ilhan Omar is facing criticism from within her own party after a prominent Minnesota Democrat publicly questioned her denials of longstanding marriage fraud allegations, declaring that he believes the accusations are likely true.
Former Minnesota state Rep. Joe Radinovich, a longtime Democratic operative with deep connections to the state’s political establishment, broke ranks Thursday as federal investigators continue examining allegations involving the controversial congresswoman.
His remarks delivered an unexpected political blow to Omar, who has repeatedly characterized questions about her marriage history and immigration records as politically motivated attacks.
“Democrats should understand that the allegation is almost certainly true—whatever conclusion they draw from that point could vary—and her denials calling it a right-wing, Islamophobic or racist conspiracy are almost certainly not,” Radinovich wrote on X.
The former lawmaker was referring to allegations that Omar married her brother, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, in 2009 as part of an alleged immigration fraud scheme.
Omar has consistently denied the accusations, which have not been conclusively established through publicly disclosed evidence.
Screenshot-X
Radinovich also raised concerns about separate questions surrounding the congresswoman’s finances.
“And then I’d be very, very careful about how I qualified on allegations around her finances—where her defense looks similar and where no meaningful questions have been answered publicly, and where any objective look at the evidence doesn’t look…great,” he added.
His comments quickly sparked backlash from Democrats defending Omar.
Briana Rose Lee, a Minneapolis Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party activist who previously worked as an operations director for Omar’s campaign, accused Radinovich of amplifying a politically motivated investigation.
“Joe. You aren’t stupid,” Lee wrote. “You know this is a baseless and manufactured witch hunt. I’m actually surprised to see this from you. It’s a new low.”
But Radinovich refused to retreat.
“You’re right,” he responded. “I’m not stupid. I believe the Trump DOJ has next to no credibility and that it’s unclear to me the timing of the raid was appropriate—though it’s notable a DC judge signed off on it—but I’m pretty confident this specific allegation is true.”
The exchange is particularly noteworthy because Radinovich is hardly a newcomer to Democratic politics.
He served in Minnesota‘s House of Representatives from 2013 to 2015 before becoming a prominent campaign strategist.
Radinovich managed Democratic Rep. Rick Nolan’s 2016 congressional campaign and helped Jacob Frey win the Minneapolis mayoral election in 2017, later serving as Frey’s chief of staff.
He also secured the Democratic nomination for Minnesota’s 8th Congressional District in 2018 before losing to Republican Pete Stauber.
However, Radinovich has his own political history with Omar.
He worked on Don Samuels’ unsuccessful primary challenges against the congresswoman in 2022 and 2024, a connection Omar’s campaign cited while attacking his credibility.
The controversy comes after Homeland Security Investigations agents searched Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence on Oct. 12.
According to Fox News Digital, investigators seized her passport, cellphone and computer during the operation.
The outlet also reported that investigators obtained Omar’s DNA and that her sister, Sahra Noor, voluntarily participated in questioning following the search.
Sources told Fox News that federal authorities were examining whether Ilhan Omar or her late father submitted fraudulent information in citizenship documents decades ago.
Such allegations, if substantiated, could raise serious legal questions about the congresswoman’s immigration history. However, the reported investigation has not resulted in publicly announced criminal charges against Omar.
The renewed scrutiny also follows reports that federal court documents identified the Minnesota Democrat under an alternative name connected to Elmi.
A court filing cited by Fox News referred to the congresswoman as “Ilhan Omar Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Omar.”
The appearance of that name does not independently establish that Omar committed fraud or that Elmi is her brother.
Another significant development emerged Thursday when Fox News reported that the Obama administration initially investigated allegations surrounding Omar’s marriage in 2016.
According to the outlet, that investigation continued until 2021, when it was closed during former President Joe Biden’s administration.
The New York Times previously reported that investigators believed the statute of limitations had expired for potential criminal charges.
Omar has maintained that the accusations are false and has described the renewed federal scrutiny as a political “vendetta” orchestrated by President Donald Trump.
Her campaign responded aggressively Friday to Radinovich’s public criticism.
“Joe is a deeply troubled individual whose demons have sadly manifested as an irrational obsession with Congresswoman Omar after managing two losing campaigns against her,” the campaign told Fox News Digital.
“His claims are false, biased, and without any evidence. While he was once seen as a rising star within the party, Joe is now widely recognized as a shill for Republican and Corporate money.”
Despite the heated accusations, the central allegations involving Omar’s former marriage remain unproven, and Radinovich’s personal assessment does not establish criminal wrongdoing.
Still, his willingness to publicly challenge a fellow Democrat demonstrates that questions surrounding Omar are no longer confined to Republican critics.
With federal investigators reportedly examining her immigration history and finances, Omar now faces criticism not only from political opponents but also from a former Democratic lawmaker who says he believes one of the most serious allegations against her.
