A recent report has drawn attention to public funding allocated to a Minneapolis clinic that was previously led by Sahra Noor, the sister of Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN), prompting renewed scrutiny over family connections and financial interests. The report outlines a timeline of events and funding decisions, raising questions about potential conflicts of interest, although no charges have been filed regarding any of the allegations.
People’s Center Clinics & Services, a nonprofit based in Minneapolis, received a $2.2 million capital budget allocation from the state of Minnesota in 2017. This funding decision occurred during the period from 2014 to 2018 when Sahra Noor served as the Chief Executive Officer of the clinic. Notably, Rep. Omar was elected to the Minnesota House of Representatives in 2017, the same year the state approved the significant capital budget for the clinic. The clinic has also been a long-term recipient of federal support, having received approximately $33 million in grants from the Department of Health and Human Services since 2002.
The report further details the clinic's participation in a contract pharmacy agreement associated with the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program. This agreement involved Degdeg’s Carepoint Pharmacy, which was signed on in 2015 while Noor was at the helm of People's Center Clinics & Services. Degdeg's Carepoint Pharmacy subsequently lost its license in 2017 and is currently listed as permanently closed.
Rep. Omar has publicly acknowledged her role in advocating for and securing funding for the clinic. She attended an event in 2022 celebrating renovations at the facility, which included expansions such as a walk-in clinic, a fitness center, a prayer room, and a multilingual call center. After her election to Congress, Rep. Omar also helped secure an additional $1 million in federal funding for the project. Regarding her involvement, Omar stated, "neither I nor my immediate family has any financial interest in this project." The clinic later publicly credited her with assisting in obtaining federal support for its upgrades.
Beyond her tenure at People's Center Clinics & Services, Sahra Noor's post-clinic activities are also examined in the report. After leaving the Minneapolis clinic, Noor relocated to Kenya, where she established a healthcare consulting firm named Grit Partners. She has stated that her firm engaged in projects funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development. Her husband, Mohamed Keynan, has held various government positions, including roles in Minnesota and subsequent appointments tied to Somalia’s leadership, working with a former prime minister and president. The report also references Noor's involvement in Hello! Caafi, a telehealth startup launched in 2020 with the aim of expanding healthcare access in Somalia. The company's online presence has reportedly become inactive, with limited public updates after 2022.
The report also revisits longstanding allegations concerning Rep. Omar’s past marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. Rep. Omar has consistently denied any wrongdoing related to these claims and testified in 2017 that she had not been in contact with Elmi for several years. However, the report cites claims from an investigative journalist who purports to have identified technical data allegedly linking Elmi to a website associated with Noor’s consulting work. These specific claims remain disputed, and it is important to note that no charges have been filed in connection with any of the allegations detailed in the report.
The situation underscores ongoing scrutiny faced by public officials concerning the intersections of government funding, nonprofit organizations, and family relationships. Supporters of the funding argue that it has significantly improved healthcare access in an underserved community in Minneapolis. Conversely, critics contend that the familial connections warrant further investigation into the allocation of public funds.
Adding to the political discourse, President Donald Trump commented on the matter during a rally on Friday. President Trump suggested that Rep. Omar "could soon be under federal investigation," emphasizing the need for the Minnesota Democrat to be removed from the U.S. Congress. He further remarked, "She married her brother, which is totally illegal!" and humorously added, "Darling, I love you very much. Good night, brother. Let's go to bed!" These statements reflect the heightened political rhetoric surrounding the allegations.
