World
Ilhan Omar denies allegations that her ex-husband is her brother: All we know about Ahmed Nur Said Elmi and her two other marriages
By: Hindustan Times World
Published: 24 October 2026
Photo / Illustration: Haldwani Times News Desk
<p>Minnesota Representative Ilhan Omar has made her initial public statement following a federal investigation that included a search of her Washington, D.C. residence. In her latest interview, the Minnesota Democratic legislator responded to persistent allegations concerning her previous marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, who is working as a political science researcher at the University of Bristol's School of Sociology.</p>
<p>Rep. Ilhan Omar told MS NOW she knows of no blood relationship with former husband Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, rejecting claims that their marriage was intended to facilitate immigration fraud (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)Omar has consistently refuted claims that she married Elmi, whom detractors have asserted was her sibling, for the purpose of perpetrating immigration fraud. To date, no publicly accessible documentation has substantiated that the two people are related by blood.</p>
<p>During an appearance on MS NOW, host Chris Hayes posed a question to Omar regarding any familial connection between herself and Elmi. Omar, as per the New York Post, stated, “Not to my knowledge.”</p>
<p>Omar then described the broader allegation “insane,” attributing the claim's origin to a Somali blog that was subsequently amplified by critics.</p>
<p>Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, a British national who was married to Omar from 2009 to 2017, presently holds a position as a doctoral researcher within the School of Sociology, Politics and International Studies at the University of Bristol.</p>
<p>Additionally, he held positions as a visiting scholar at the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa and as an affiliate researcher at the British Institute in Eastern Africa located in Kenya.</p>
<p>The 41-year-old scholar's academic work concentrates on violence targeting queer people in Kenya, alongside examining the interconnections between sexuality, political systems, and institutional exclusion, as per his University of Bristol faculty profile.</p>
<p>“He is currently completing his doctoral thesis, provisionally titled: ‘Bravery Amidst Brutality: A Queer Resistance to Violence and Criminalization in Contemporary Kenya,'” the bio states.</p>
<p>In his capacity as a graduate instructor at the university, Elmi has previously facilitated undergraduate seminars addressing political theory and contemporary international politics. His scholarly interests encompass political party systems throughout the African continent, informed by substantial prior research conducted with both the Political Parties Database Project and the Political Parties in Africa Project, as documented in his institutional biography.</p>
<p>According to his biographical profile, Elmi was awarded a comprehensive doctoral scholarship in 2022 by the United Kingdom's Economic and Social Research Council. His biography makes no reference to Omar, 44.</p>
<p>In 2018, Omar got married to Ahmed Abdisalan Hirsi. The couple, who share three children, dissolved their marriage one year thereafter.</p>
<p>She later married her third spouse, Tim Mynett, a political consultant and businessman, in March 2020. Mynett completed his undergraduate education at the University at Albany in 2003, obtaining a degree in political science, and currently wroks as a political consultant.</p>
<p>Shweta Kukreti has over 8 years of experience in covering Indian and world politics. She joined the Hindustan Times in 2024 and is primarily assigned to the US desk. She currently works as Deputy Chief Content Producer and reports on a wide range of topics, including US politics, immigration issues (especially H-1B visa) and major global events. Shweta strongly emphasizes team operations, which encompasses monitoring news, delegating tasks, editing, developing comprehensive coverage strategies, and crafting engaging, and data-informed narratives. She received the Digi Star Award at the Hindustan Times within a year of joining for her broad coverage of US politics. In 2025, she earned both a promotion and a redesignation, a significant achievement recognising her contributions and the strong value she brings to the team. She has previously worked with the Indian Express, HTDS, ANI and Republic World. Seniors in all the media organisations recognised her work. Regarding education, she earned a BA (Hons.) in Political Science and a master's degree from Delhi University, and she pursued a PG Diploma in English Journalism from the Indian Institution of Mass Communication (IIMC). She also holds a diploma in Women's Empowerment and Development from IGNOU University and a French certification course from Alliance Française de Delhi. If not working, you can find her exploring the hills and engaging in adventurous activities in Rishikesh and Himachal Pradesh. She loves to play badminton, volleyball, and chess, and spend time with her friends and family. She also enjoys spiritual activities.Read More</p>
