Federal agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington home in criminal probe
Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a judge-approved search warrant at Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C.-area home early Monday, the Justice Department said. Omar, who has not been charged with any crime, called it an attempt to “weaponize federal law enforcement.”
What happened: Federal agents searched the Washington, D.C.-area residence of Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., early Monday, October 12, the Justice Department said, according to ABC News and NPR. A neighbor told NPR that agents woke her around 4:30 a.m. and arrived with “a great big truck.”
What the government says: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice,” a DOJ spokesperson said, according to ABC News. “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.” Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is the investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
White House border czar Tom Homan confirmed the search in a Fox News interview, ABC reported: “I can confirm that a search warrant was executed this morning, signed by a judge. Department of Justice is leading the investigation along with Department of Homeland Security.” He declined to discuss specifics. The White House referred questions to the Justice Department.
What the investigation is about — attributed, not established: The government has not publicly said what it is investigating. ABC News, citing sources, reported that the investigation relates to Omar’s immigration paperwork. NPR reported that a current official described a multi-year probe that includes whistleblower complaints, and that a former official briefed on the matter said it involves immigration fraud allegations. Vice President JD Vance has previously accused Omar of immigration fraud, which she denies, NPR reported. Omar has not been charged with a crime.
Omar’s response: “Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement,” Omar posted on social media, adding, “I will not be silenced,” NPR and ABC reported. ABC said she wrote that she is “ok.” Her spokesperson, Jackie Rogers, called the search an “outrageous abuse of power and an unprecedented escalation in the weaponization of federal law enforcement to target political enemies,” according to NPR. ABC said it was unclear whether Omar was at the residence during the search.
The timing: The search came three weeks before the November midterm elections, in which Omar is seeking reelection, with early voting in Minnesota starting later this week, ABC reported. ABC noted that, in recent history, Justice Department practice has been to advise prosecutors against overt investigative steps involving members of Congress or candidates within 60 days of an election. That is internal guidance, not a statute.
Background: Omar, who represents Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, came to the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia as a child and is a U.S. citizen, ABC and NPR reported. She was first elected in 2018 and is the first Somali American in Congress. ABC reported that President Donald Trump attacked Omar at a rally Saturday and has said this year that she “should be in jail.” Omar has said Trump’s rhetoric has made threats against her “skyrocket,” according to ABC.
How a search warrant works: A search warrant lets agents search a place and seize evidence after a judge finds probable cause that evidence of a crime will be found there. It is an investigative step. It is not a criminal charge, and it does not mean the person whose home is searched has done anything wrong.
What’s next: Neither the Justice Department nor DHS has said what was seized or whether charges are expected.