In August 2019, a coalition of Minnesota Republican state representatives formally asked the Internal Revenue Service to conduct a detailed reexamination of the federal tax filings of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D‑Minn., after a state campaign‑finance board report raised questions about her 2014 and 2015 joint returns.
Background of the request
The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board released a report on June 6, 2019, indicating that Omar had filed joint federal income tax returns in 2014 and 2015 with Ahmed Hirsi, despite being legally married to another man, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, at the time. The board’s investigation began while it was reviewing a $1,500 expense charged to Omar’s campaign committee for services provided by the Kjellberg Law Office.
According to the board’s findings, the $1,500 payment was part of a larger $2,250 reimbursement to the law firm for legal and other services. The board concluded that the committee had not demonstrated that the expense directly benefited the campaign and ordered Omar to reimburse the amount.
Lawmakers’ letter to the IRS
Following the board’s report, ten Republican state legislators – Rep. Steve Drazkowski, Rep. Linda Runbeck, Rep. Glenn Gruenhagen, Rep. Shane Mekeland, Rep. John Poston, Rep. Eric Lucero, Rep. Duane Quam, Rep. Tim Miller, Rep. Cal Bahr and Rep. Jeremy Munson – signed a letter to then‑IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig. The letter stated, “Due to recent developments, I believe probable cause exists for an investigation into Rep. Omar’s tax filings,” and asked the agency to undertake a review of the joint returns.
Rep. Drazkowski told Fox News Digital that the IRS never responded to the request. The agency did not comment on the matter, and Fox News Digital was unable to confirm whether any follow‑up investigation occurred.
Omar’s response and related findings
Rep. Omar’s campaign explained that the Kjellberg Law Office retained the accounting firm Frederick & Rosen to obtain and review her financial records as part of a broader effort to address allegations about her marital history. The firm prepared releases for Omar and Hirsi to sign so that the joint tax returns could be obtained from the IRS.
In a separate letter obtained by Fox News Digital, the Republican lawmakers also asked Minnesota Department of Revenue Commissioner Cynthia Bauerly to review the joint filings. Neither the commissioner nor the department responded to the request.
The campaign committee later clarified that the $1,500 expense was not related to Omar’s personal divorce proceedings, a claim the board had rejected. The board also required repayment for certain travel expenses incurred by the campaign, including trips to Boston, New York and Washington, D.C.
Broader context
In October 2019, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin indicated that a federal investigation into Omar concerning potential immigration and marriage fraud had been referred to the Department of Justice as a “large case” involving multiple individuals. The Department of Homeland Security did not comment on whether the investigation specifically addressed the 2014‑15 joint tax filings.
While Rep. Omar expressed relief that the campaign‑finance board’s process was complete, she did not address the board’s findings regarding the joint tax returns. She declined to comment further for Fox News Digital.
Implications for Minnesota politics
The episode underscores ongoing partisan scrutiny of elected officials in Minnesota. Republican lawmakers argue that transparency and accountability are essential to preserving public trust, especially when questions arise about the use of campaign funds and personal tax matters. Critics contend that the focus on Omar’s personal life distracts from substantive policy debates.
Regardless of perspective, the request for a federal review highlights the intersection of state‑level campaign‑finance oversight and federal tax enforcement, illustrating how state legislators can leverage their authority to prompt further investigation when they believe probable cause exists.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
