t. Paul, MN – Minnesota Republican State Representative Steve Drazkowski has reignited controversy by demanding the arrest of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, accusing her of federal tax fraud, immigration fraud, student loan fraud, perjury, bigamy, and campaign finance violations. Speaking at a press event, Drazkowski claimed to possess “receipts”—affidavits, eviction notices, a marriage certificate, and other documents—supporting his allegations. He urged Rep. Angie Craig, his congresswoman, to launch an ethics investigation, framing the issue as a matter of national security.
The allegations center on Omar’s 2009–2017 marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, which Drazkowski and others, including blogger David Steinberg, have labeled a “sham” to circumvent immigration laws. They claim Omar and Elmi—who some speculate is her brother—lived together with Omar’s current husband, Ahmed Hirsi, at shared addresses, raising questions about tax filings and student aid. Drazkowski pointed to Steinberg’s blog posts, which cited deleted social media images as evidence, though Omar has denied the claims, insisting her marriage to Elmi was genuine but ended due to personal reasons.
First raised in 2016, these accusations have persisted without leading to legal action. A 2019 Minneapolis Star Tribune investigation found inconsistencies in the fraud narrative but no definitive proof, and federal agencies have not pursued charges. Omar was fined $3,500 in 2019 for minor campaign finance violations, but no evidence of systemic fraud emerged. Drazkowski’s call for Craig, a Democrat on unrelated committees, to initiate an ethics probe has yet to gain traction, and there’s no record of Craig responding.
On X, the claims fuel polarized reactions. Some users demand Omar’s prosecution, citing Drazkowski’s “evidence,” while others dismiss the allegations as partisan attacks, noting the lack of new developments since 2019. Omar’s supporters argue the focus on her personal life distracts from her policy work, while critics see institutional inaction as a cover-up.
Drazkowski’s insistence that Omar’s past behavior threatens national security remains vague, lacking specific ties to current risks. He suggested Omar could clear her name by requesting an ethics review, as her predecessor did in a different context, but Omar has not taken this step. If Craig ignores his request, Drazkowski hinted at escalating the matter to other officials, though no concrete plans were outlined.
As of April 18, 2025, no arrests or federal investigations have materialized. The allegations, while persistent, rely on unverified claims, leaving Omar’s critics and defenders at an impasse in a deeply divided political landscape.
