A winery co-owned by Tim Mynett, the husband of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., has closed following claims of fraudulent practices. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., announced the closure over the weekend.
Comer stated that the winery had been profiting by selling empty barrels under the false impression that the barrels contained wine meant for aging. He remarked, “I can tell you from our initial investigation of Omar and her financial disclosure form that there are multiple fronts where you could get a search warrant issued,” during an appearance on Fox News’ “Sunday Night in America.” He further noted discrepancies in Omar’s financial disclosure forms, particularly pointing to the $25 million listing base that included the winery.
The winery had shut down in April amid increased congressional scrutiny surrounding Omar’s finances. The business was founded in 2020 by Mynett and his partner and was initially recognized as a “Hot Brand of 2022” by Wine Business.
“Omar’s disclosures erased millions, leaving her with potential negative net worth. She won’t explain why,” a statement highlighted during ongoing investigations into Omar’s affairs.
Federal law enforcement recently executed a search warrant at Omar’s home in Washington, D.C., amid allegations regarding her citizenship processing. Her critics, including House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., have demanded her deportation if these allegations hold.
Rep. James Comer, known for his critical stance on Omar, wrote to Mynett concerning his wife’s stake in the winery, fluctuating from $15,001 – $50,000 to $1,000,001 – $5,000,000 within a year.
The House Oversight Committee had raised concerns over how the assets related to Omar’s businesses had seen such exponential growth.
Federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations raided Omar’s D.C. residence amid ongoing investigations. The House Oversight Committee spokesperson confirmed that the case has been referred to the House Ethics Committee for further review.
Elizabeth Elkind, a politics reporter for Fox News Digital, highlighted that the bipartisan House Ethics Committee would decide on legislative measures if wrongdoing is found.