The wine business, co-owned by Rep. Ilhan Omar’s husband Tim Mynett, closed following fraud accusations. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer revealed these claims, explaining that the winery allegedly sold empty barrels as investments for ‘wine to be aged.’
Comer pointed to significant discrepancies in Omar’s financial disclosures, specifically highlighting the winery. He suggested the matter could lead to further investigations, possibly warranting search actions.
“First of all, not only was there a huge discrepancy in the financial disclosure form, there was the winery that was the big base of her $25 million listing on her financial disclosure form. That winery has, according to the press, been shut down because of fraud,” said Comer on Fox News.
Omar’s financial filings showed a dramatic increase in value for the stake in the winery, eStCru, from the previous year. Comer expressed concern over the significant and unexpected asset value rise in a letter to Mynett.
Omar’s immigration status is under federal investigation. Authorities executed a search warrant at her Washington D.C. home, stemming from claims she and her father misrepresented her age for citizenship purposes.
Previously, Omar underwent scrutiny for financial disclosures that depicted rapid shifts in her net worth. She attributed these to a clerical error. Despite ongoing criticism, she and her supporters deny any wrongdoing.
eStCru, based in California and co-founded by Mynett in 2020, was recognized by Wine Business as a notable brand of 2022. The House Oversight Committee has referred Omar’s financial conduct to the House Ethics Committee, encouraging a review of the allegations.
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