Ilhan Omar is one of the most well-known and controversial members of the U.S. Congress. Since she was elected, she has been at the center of countless political debates and a number of unsubstantiated rumors. The most persistent claim—that Ilhan Omar’s brother is also her husband—has been repeatedly debunked but still circulates online. This article examines the origins of the conspiracy theory, the facts, and its impact on her political career.
The Rumor’s Origin and Spread
The conspiracy theory that Ilhan Omar married her own brother originated in 2016 during her campaign for a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Conservative bloggers and political opponents alleged that her first marriage to a man named Ahmed Nur Said Elmi was a sham to help him obtain U.S. citizenship. They claimed that Elmi was actually her brother. This rumor gained traction in 2019 when President Donald Trump and other prominent conservatives repeated it.
The claim was largely based on circumstantial evidence, including inconsistencies in her marriage and divorce records, and the fact that a man with the same name as her supposed brother had attended a school in London at the same time as her.
The Facts: What the Investigations Found
Journalists and fact-checkers from across the political spectrum have investigated the claim. They have consistently found no credible evidence to support the conspiracy theory.
- In 2019, the Associated Press conducted a thorough investigation, interviewing members of the Somali community who knew Ilhan Omar and her family. They found no evidence that Elmi was related to her.
- The Minneapolis Star Tribune also launched its own investigation, interviewing family members who confirmed that Ilhan’s brother, who is not Elmi, lives in the United States and is not a U.S. citizen.
- Snopes, a non-partisan fact-checking website, has also debunked the claim, labeling it as “False.”
Investigators concluded that the man Ilhan Omar married was not her brother. Her brother has also publicly denied the allegations and has distanced himself from the political turmoil.
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CONCLUSION
The conspiracy theory has significantly impacted Ilhan Omar’s political career, leading to harassment and death threats. Even though many sources have debunked the rumor, people still use it to discredit Ilhan Omar. This incident highlights how easily false information spreads and the devastating impact it can have on a person’s life.
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