Prosecutors tried to turn Ilhan Omar’s ex-bodyguard into an informant against her: Report

WASHINGTON, DC: Federal prosecutors indicted a former bodyguard of Rep Ilhan Omar in an alleged attempt to obtain information that would be damaging to her. The case against Abdullahi Mohamed, who was accused of lying to a government official under oath during a green card interview, was dropped by the Justice Department in September.

The New York Times reports that Mohamed's lawyer Bruce Rivers said that for months the prosecutors had been trying to get Mohamed to provide information about Omar as part of a wider investigation into her immigration history and finances. Rivers claims the prosecutors were prepared to step in and intervene in Mohamed's deportation case if he would provide damaging information about the congresswoman.

The Department of Justice has declined to comment on the matter and said it has nothing to do with any of the current investigations.

Prosecutors reportedly questioned Abdullahi Mohamed about Ilhan Omar

Mohamed, who is a Somali and British citizen, applied for a green card following his marriage to an American citizen in Minnesota. Rivers said his client was asked during an October 2025 immigration interview whether he had worked for the Somali government in the US and whether he had had any dealings with government officials or politicians.

Mohamed said no to both questions even though he had in fact been on Omar's security detail for a short period on an overseas trip and had also visited her office on Capitol Hill. Rivers testified that his client had a very limited command of English and didn't understand the questions.

His green card petition was denied. In February, the DOJ notified him that he was the subject of a criminal investigation for allegedly making false statements to a government official under oath, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

In March, prosecutors invited Mohamed to a proffer meeting, during which investigators question someone who is under criminal investigation after offering immunity for anything they say in the course of the meeting. Rivers was present at that meeting and said the questioning was largely focused on Omar, her journey into the country as an immigrant from Somalia, and her marital history.

Investigators also asked about a $10,000 payment involving Omar and one of Mohamed's brothers, which Rivers said they described as potentially a bribe. Mohamed subsequently asked his brother about the payment and was told that it had sorted out a loan.

Rivers said the prosecutors offered to assist in the prevention of Mohamed's deportation on the basis that he would provide some negative information about Omar. He also claimed that a prosecutor on several occasions told him the investigation was being run from the White House.

Omar's spokesperson Jackie Rogers said the congresswoman had never in fact employed Mohamed and that the suggestion of an offer of immigration help in return for information was "absolutely outrageous." She described the investigation as an abuse of presidential power designed to intimidate political opponents.

Case against Abdullahi Mohamed was later dropped

Rivers said a grand jury indicted Mohamed in early April after prosecutors had been unable to get him to cooperate. He was due to go on trial October 26. Mohamed testified before a grand jury in Washington that is investigating Omar on September 3. He was given immunity from prosecution for making potentially incriminating statements, Rivers said. Prosecutors dropped the indictment the next day.

They stated that Mohamed had been subject to deportation proceedings since August. "Accordingly, there is no longer a federal interest in continuing prosecution in light of his anticipated removal from the United States," prosecutors said in the motion to dismiss.

Ryan Wood, a former federal prosecutor and senior immigration judge, called Mohamed's prosecution "very unusual."

He said pursuing a false-statement charge based on information from a green card interview was almost unheard of, particularly given the language barrier and the questions' wording.