The House Oversight Committee, led by Chairman James Comer (R-KY), has initiated an inquiry into the finances of Timothy Mynett, the husband of Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN). The probe focuses on the extraordinary increase in valuation of Mynett's businesses over a one-year period.
Comer has formally requested financial records from Rose Lake Capital LLC, a consulting firm managed by Mynett, and eStCru LLC, a wine company partly owned by Omar. According to federal financial disclosures, Rose Lake Capital's worth was estimated between $51,000 and $250,000 in 2023, which then soared to a range of $5 million to $25 million in 2024. The growth trajectory for eStCru LLC was similar, with valuation rising from $15,000 to $50,000 in 2023 to between $1 million and $5 million in 2024.
The Oversight Committee Chairman suggests that this could represent a jump from roughly $51,000 to as much as $30 million in a single year, a staggering 58,723 percent increase by his calculations. Comer's request for financial transparency was made public via a social media post, where he expressed concerns regarding the funding sources and the potential for political access being sold through these businesses.
This investigation aligns with President Donald Trump's allegations of widespread fraud in Minnesota's public service contracts. Trump has claimed that as much as $19 billion could have been misappropriated through fraudulent activities, leading to investigations by several federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Homeland Security, and the House Oversight Committee.
The probe has gathered attention partly due to reported connections with Minnesota's Somali community, amid broader federal investigations into fraud. Rep. Omar, of Somali descent, has been at the center of political scrutiny, recently branded as a "scammer" by President Trump in a tweet.
Rose Lake Capital advertises itself as a firm with staff composed of former diplomats and global experience, yet specifics regarding employees or assets remain undisclosed. Comer's letter pointed out the lack of detailed information and has subsequently demanded internal documents and communications.
The investigation into Mynett's wine business isn't without precedent, as a 2024 report accused the company of defrauding an investor in a California winery. As the inquiry unfolds, it remains a focal point of the Trump administration's broader claims of corruption within Minnesota's political landscape, an issue that has become increasingly prominent since Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) withdrew from his re-election campaign amid the fraud investigations.
