Prosecutors Dropped Case Against Omar’s Former Bodyguard
Published on November 11, 2026. Abdullahi Mohamed, who spent a short time on the security team for Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, was charged with lying to a government official under oath after an immigration interview. His lawyer, Bruce Rivers, says prosecutors used the case to press Mohamed for information about Omar’s background, marriage and finances.
Rivers said investigators questioned Mohamed in March about a possible $10,000 payment involving Omar and one of Mohamed’s brothers. The lawyer said prosecutors offered to help with Mohamed’s immigration case if he supplied damaging information. Mohamed said he had nothing incriminating to share, Rivers said; afterward, he questioned his brother about the payment and learned it was repayment of a loan.
Mohamed had applied for a green card in October 2025 after marrying an American woman. His application was denied, and the Justice Department informed him in February that he was under criminal investigation. Prosecutors obtained an indictment in April. Mohamed testified before a grand jury on September 3, and prosecutors dismissed the case the next day, explaining that no federal purpose remained as he faced deportation proceedings. He later left the United States for Kenya.
Rivers said prosecutors told him the Omar investigation was directed from the White House. Omar’s spokesperson condemned the alleged effort to enlist Mohamed and said she had never employed him directly. The Justice Department said the charges against Mohamed were unrelated to any current investigations. The broader inquiry has examined allegations about Omar’s citizenship history and marriage, which she has denied wrongdoing in connection with.
Omar Probe Raises Concerns About Political Use of DOJ
The case against Abdullahi Mohamed is raising serious questions about whether federal power was used to pursue President Donald Trump’s outspoken critic, Rep. Ilhan Omar. Mohamed’s lawyer, Bruce Rivers, says prosecutors pressed his client for months to provide information about Omar’s immigration history, marriage and finances, and proposed assistance with his immigration case in return.
Rivers said prosecutors asked about a possible $10,000 payment involving Omar and one of Mohamed’s brothers. Mohamed told investigators he had no incriminating information, the lawyer said. Mohamed later questioned his brother about the payment and learned it had settled a loan.
Mohamed was charged after an immigration interview in which he denied working for the Somali government or having contacts with American politicians and officials. Rivers said Mohamed’s limited English contributed to his answers. Prosecutors indicted him in April, then dismissed the case on September 4, after he testified before a grand jury the previous day. He later left the United States for Kenya.
Rivers said officials described the Omar investigation as directed from the White House. Omar’s spokesperson called the alleged recruitment effort an abuse of presidential power and said Omar had never directly employed Mohamed. The Justice Department said Mohamed’s charges were unrelated to current investigations. Omar has denied wrongdoing, while the inquiry has examined claims about her citizenship history and marriage—allegations that should not be treated as established facts.
Omar Investigation Allegations Rest on Former Guard’s Lawyer
Claims that the Justice Department targeted Rep. Ilhan Omar through her former bodyguard remain allegations from the bodyguard’s lawyer, while the department has said Mohamed’s charges were unrelated to current investigations. That distinction matters in a politically charged dispute over an inquiry into Omar’s citizenship history and marriage, which she has denied wrongdoing in connection with.
Abdullahi Mohamed was charged with lying under oath after an immigration interview. His lawyer, Bruce Rivers, says prosecutors later questioned him about Omar’s immigration history, marital past and finances, including a possible $10,000 payment involving Omar and one of Mohamed’s brothers. Rivers says Mohamed had no incriminating information and that his brother described the payment as repayment of a loan.
Rivers also alleges prosecutors offered to help Mohamed with his immigration case if he provided damaging information about Omar, and said officials characterized the investigation as directed from the White House. The account comes from Mohamed’s lawyer; the Justice Department has rejected a connection between Mohamed’s charges and current investigations.
Prosecutors obtained an indictment in April. After Mohamed testified before a grand jury on September 3, they dismissed the case the following day, citing his placement in deportation proceedings and a lack of continuing federal interest. Mohamed later left the United States for Kenya. Omar’s spokesperson said she had never directly employed him and denounced the alleged attempt to enlist him.
Reported by The New Republic, Daily Mail US, MSNBC, Talking Points Memo, The Washington Examiner.
