Importing Ilhan

About

Importing Ilhan is a 2019 political documentary produced by the conservative media website Culttture. The film follows political activists and conspiracy theorists Laura Loomer and Jacob Wohl, along with the film's director Ali Alexander, as they investigate and attempt to interrogate United States Representative Ilhan Omar. The film follows the unproven allegation that Omar married her brother to help him immigrate to the United States. Omar has denied the allegation.

History

On March 12th, 2019, the website Culttture premiered the trailer for the short documentary Important Ilhan. The post received more than 125 retweets and 200 likes in two days (shown below).

#Culttture's first documentary, "IMPORTING ILHAN" will be released later tonight at: https://t.co/lFVkRX60UbWatch the official trailer now: pic.twitter.com/aUYV5Ic0ZT

— Culttture (@culttture) March 12, 2019

Later that day, Culttture premiered the film on their website (shown below). Within 24 hours, the video has received more than 3,200 views on Vimeo. The film follows, Alexander, Wohl and Loomer's investigation into the conspiracy theory that Omar married her brother to help him immigrate to the United States, a rumor which has been found "Unproven" by the fact-checking website Snopes. ^[1]

Reception

Following the film's release, many online mocked the documentary, both for its creators, who have been maligned online for a variety of stunts and gaffes, and its filmmaking qualities. Comedy editor Vic Berger tweeted a clip of Laura Loomer unsuccessfully confronting Omar at her home. They wrote, "The Laura Loomer/Jacob Wohl documentary is one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time (unintentionally, of course.)" The post received more than 1,300 retweets and 9,400 likes in 24 hours (shown below).

The Laura Loomer/Jacob Wohl documentary is one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time (unintentionally, of course.) pic.twitter.com/f7sFbBFa0S

— Vic Berger IV (@VicBergerIV) March 14, 2019

Daily Beast reporter Will Sommer criticized the film's editing, as well, stating that it worked against the film's subjects (shown below). He tweeted,^[4] "The editing in the Jacob Wohl video couldn't be less fair to its subjects, even though they're paying the people who made it. At one point, Wohl is described in a voiceover as a top intelligence operative--even as he cackles over a dumb video on his phone."

Death Threat Hoax

In the film, Wohl and Alexander's report alleged death threats made against them to the Minnesota police. These death threats were original reported following a Periscope live stream in which Wohl tells the audience that he believes Omar will send someone after him (shown below).

Jacob Wohl and Laura Loomer say they have been going around Minneapolis in armored cars, with security, because they feel Rep. Ilhan Omar might send someone after them. pic.twitter.com/VnmFAybpGF

— Tony Webster (@webster) February 22, 2019

On March 13th, Twitter ^[2] user @webster, who originally posted about the threats, tweeted, "In the right-wing ‘documentary’ on Rep. Ilhan Omar released tonight by Jacob Wohl, Laura Loomer, and Ali Alexander, they included this screenshot of a threat they received. There's one problem: NBC News earlier reported that Jacob Wohl created the account which sent the 'threat.'" The post received more than 1,900 retweets and 5,300 likes

According to GQ,^[3] Wohl's submission of a false police report could have legal ramifications. They write, "Minnesota Statutes 2018, section 609.505, subdivision 1 makes providing false information to a law enforcement officer a misdemeanor. Under state law, such offenses are punishable by up to 90 days in jail, a fine of up to $1,000, or both."

In response to the reports that Wohl forged the tweets, director Ali Alexander tweeted,^[5] "Jacob Wohl has certainly lied. He’s bragged that misinformation is useful. Hell, I’ve been a victim of his lies. To string him up here, before I see evidence would be easy. I choose to wait. I hope whatever the truth is, it comes out" (shown below).

Search Interest

External References