Opinion: Gregg Jarrett Lays Out the Charges Ilhan Omar Could Face if Federal Investigators Prove Their Case
The Fox News legal analyst argues a judge's signed warrant suggests strong evidence and walks through the criminal and civil exposure if the allegations hold up. Omar has not been charged and denies wrongdoing.
Fox News legal analyst Gregg Jarrett argues that Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., could face indictment, denaturalization and deportation if federal investigators prove what they suspect.
The starting point. Jarrett writes that federal authorities searched Omar's home under a judicial warrant, that other warrants were executed the same day according to Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and that DNA evidence was reportedly obtained. He says her devices and documents were seized and more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas were allegedly served on her family. He notes plainly that Omar "has not been indicted" and denies wrongdoing, calling the probe a political vendetta.
The warrant argument. Jarrett points out that a Democratic judge in Washington approved the warrant. In his view that means prosecutors "must have presented substantial incriminating evidence," especially against a sitting member of the judge's own party weeks before an election. He concedes that probable cause is a lower bar than guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
The exposure. He lists what he says could follow, depending on the proof. A false birthdate on immigration forms could mean false statements and fraud, with up to 10 years in prison for the citizenship-fraud count. Lying about being a minor to gain derivative citizenship from her father, or her father's own fraud, could void her citizenship. A false identity on immigration or passport forms could be identity fraud. Knowingly marrying a sibling, he writes, is a crime in all 50 states. Proof of any of these could lead to denaturalization, removal proceedings and deportation.
The details he cites. Jarrett says Omar answered "Not to my knowledge" when asked on MS NOW whether she married her brother, and calls that an unusual dodge rather than a denial. He also says a new court filing by the D.C. U.S. attorney names her as "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar." Separately, he notes a criminal probe into her finances, and her revision of a disclosure that at one point suggested as much as $30 million in assets.
His closing line. "Who is Ilhan Omar? We may soon find out."
Note for readers: this is one commentator's argument. Jarrett presents the sibling-marriage claim as a rumor, and no charge or court finding in his column supports it. We have not seen the warrant, the court filing or Omar's full interview. Omar is presumed innocent.