US president Donald Trump has called on Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar to resign from Congress, reviving allegations surrounding her former marriage. The demand follows a federal court filing that referred to the Minnesota lawmaker as “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar.”Speaking at a rally in Iowa on Thursday, Trump cited the filing submitted by the office of US Attorney Jeanine Pirro and claimed that Omar had used a false name to take her congressional oath.“It was just revealed just a little while ago that Ilhan Omar, not a person I’ve ever been particularly fond of, that her name is not Ilhan Omar, the one that she used to get elected and sworn in to Congress, in other words, she used the name Ilhan Omar but rather it’s an entirely different name, Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, slightly different than Ilhan Omar”, he said adding, “the last name is also the exact last name of her brother, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, that they say she married and had children with, and you’re allowed to do that, I don’t know,” Trump said.“She used a fake name to be sworn in. I assume she must immediately have to resign from Congress,” Trump added.Trump alleged that she had admitted to fraud, “The Democratic Party had just conceded her seat, and Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, her real name, has openly admitted to fraud. She will not be legally allowed to serve as a member of that august body, any longer.”He declared, “The Republicans have just picked up a seat in the House.”However, the allegations have not been established in court, and Omar’s office has denied that she used a false name. The court filing’s reference to an alternative name does not, on its own, establish fraud or disqualify her from serving in Congress.The court filing, obtained by Fox News, concerns efforts to keep materials related to a federal search warrant for Omar’s Washington, DC-area residence sealed. It does not, by itself, establish that the congresswoman used a fraudulent identity or that she is legally disqualified from serving in Congress.
Omar denies allegations
Omar’s office rejected the report, telling Fox News Digital, “This is completely false. Ilhan Omar is her real name.”The spokesperson also described the allegations as a “desperate smear” and said it was “disgraceful that the media continues to give this lie oxygen.”The controversy also revived allegations that Omar’s former husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, was her brother. Omar has repeatedly denied the claim.In an interview with MS NOW anchor Chris Hayes on Wednesday, Omar described the allegation as “insane”. Asked whether she was related to Elmi, she replied, “Not to my knowledge.”
Federal investigation continues
The dispute comes amid a federal investigation into potential fraud involving immigration paperwork linked to Omar’s family. A person briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press that authorities had issued grand jury subpoenas to some of her relatives.Federal agents recently searched Omar’s Washington residence. She said investigators seized 17 items, including phones, notebooks, a Somali-language children’s book and a vintage camera belonging to her husband.Omar said she was “confident in the fact that I didn’t do anything wrong” and described the search as unsettling. She has also said she plans to move out of the residence because the attention surrounding the raid has made her feel unsafe.The investigation remains ongoing, with the Justice Department releasing limited details.