The problem is not in the declaration of your relative, but in the way how to convince the consular officer that you'll be back (that you are not planing to emigrate in the USA). In the application form item 31 you have to declare if a visa has been denied to you which let me think that even you've answer with 'NO' you'll be checked for a previous application. Then if you hide this fact, you won't be able to get visa in a future.
Good luck.