A new round of legal challenges involving Tim Mynett, the husband of U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), has renewed public attention on the couple. Mynett, a political consultant turned venture capitalist, is named in a lawsuit alleging fraud and breach of contract related to eStCru, a California-based wine company in which he is a partner.
The lawsuit, filed in Washington, D.C., alleges that Mynett and his business partner, Will Hailer, defrauded investor Naeem Mohd. According to court filings, Mohd claims he invested $300,000 after being promised a 200 percent return within 18 months, a return that he alleges was never delivered, The Jerusalem Post reported.
The lawsuit alleges that while the principal investment was eventually repaid after a delay, the promised profits were never delivered. It further claims that the business partners misrepresented the company’s financial condition.
Mynett has denied the allegations, describing the case as a contractual disagreement rather than fraud.
Beyond the financial dispute, Mynett’s involvement in the wine business has drawn attention from observers of Omar’s public life. A spokesperson for the congresswoman has said Omar and Mynett married “Islamically and legally” in 2020. Omar has identified as a Sunni Muslim, a tradition that generally prohibits the production, sale, and consumption of alcohol under Islamic law.
Mynett’s role in a winery has prompted questions from critics about how that business activity aligns with those religious tenets. Omar has not publicly commented on the issue. Her office has said she maintains a separation between her official duties and her husband’s private business ventures and has no involvement in his companies.
The lawsuit is not the first instance in which Mynett’s finances have intersected with Omar’s political career. During Omar’s 2020 re-election campaign, her campaign paid nearly $3 million to Mynett’s consulting firm, the E Street Group. The Federal Election Commission found no legal violations, though the arrangement drew criticism from lawmakers in both parties.
Mynett is also facing additional legal challenges. His venture capital firm, eSt Ventures, has been sued by cannabis companies in South Dakota that allege the firm failed to meet fundraising commitments. According to reports, the firm has acknowledged owing investors more than $1 million.
Omar’s office has reiterated that she has no role in her husband’s business activities and that the matters are unrelated to her legislative work, the JPost reported.
Earlier this week reports noted that Rep. Randy Fine, a Florida Republican, was considering forcing a House vote to expel Omar, telling Axios on Wednesday that he is actively weighing the move.