Ilhan Omar's Former Bodyguard Deported After DOJ Drops Charge

A former bodyguard for Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota has been deported after federal prosecutors dropped a felony charge against him, adding another twist to the investigation surrounding the congresswoman.

Federal prosecutors charged Abdullahi Mohamed earlier this year. Mohamed, who holds Somali and British citizenship, had briefly served as Omar's bodyguard during a recent trip to Somalia, according to The New York Times.

The charge centered on answers Mohamed gave about whether he had ever worked on behalf of the Somali government and whether he had ever had "interactions with any government officials or politicians in the United States." He answered "no" to both questions, despite having worked with Omar.

Mohamed's legal team has said the false answers were the result of his poor command of English.

READ MORE: Ilhan Omar's Former Bodyguard Faces Felony Charge as Immigration Probe Continues

Mohamed was charged with lying under oath to a government official. The Times ran its story under the headline "Somali Bodyguard Was Indicted in a Bid to Incriminate Ilhan Omar," and his attorney has alleged that investigators spent months trying to recruit him as an informant against the congresswoman.

Questions About Omar

His past connection to Omar made him a potentially valuable source, and the Times reported that federal officials tried to use it.

"The investigators asked Mr. Mohamed about Ms. Omar's immigration journey from Somalia and her marital history, which includes a 2009 marriage that became the source of rumors about possible immigration fraud," the outlet reported.

Authorities also reportedly asked Mohamed about an alleged $10,000 payment from Omar to his brother.

His lawyer, Bruce Rivers, told the Times that while his client tried to be helpful, he had no incriminating information to share. "They asked him if he knew who she was married to and that kind of stuff," Rivers said. "He didn't know any information about that stuff."

Charge Dropped, Then Deported

The Justice Department later dropped the charge. "There is no longer a federal interest in continuing prosecution in light of his anticipated removal from the United States," the department said in a filing.

READ MORE: 175 House Democrats Rally to Shield Ilhan Omar as Federal Immigration Probe Presses On

Mohamed has since been deported and now lives in Kenya, though he says he has his own side of the story to tell.

Omar Under Scrutiny

Omar won a fifth term in last week's midterms but remains under federal investigation. Questions about her immigration filings and marital history have intensified since federal agents searched her Washington home in October.

Omar has denied wrongdoing and called the investigation politically motivated, and she has not been charged. Fox News reported that she was recently seen meeting with prominent Washington lawyers who have represented Democratic officials in cases against the Trump administration.

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has called it a strong case and said authorities expected to present evidence to a grand jury, while Omar's attorneys have accused investigators of violating court-ordered safeguards during the search, a claim the Justice Department disputes.

In an Oct. 16 letter, Omar's attorneys, Amy Jeffress and Joshua Matz, demanded that the government return property seized in the search and preserve all audio and video recordings of the operation. Vice President JD Vance has defended investigating possible immigration violations while stressing the need for factual evidence.