Published Updated

USAupdated 10m ago2 min read

Homeland Security Investigations Agents Search Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington Home in Criminal Probe

This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.

Federal Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search of Omar's D.C. home. The probe is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, reportedly into immigration paperwork.

Read the story
Homeland Security Investigations Agents Search Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington Home in Criminal Probe
Image: Wikālat ʿAmūn al-Akhbāriyah
Compared

67 outlets told this the same way.

Omar home searched

Federal agents searched Democratic U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home in the Washington, D.C. area as part of an ongoing criminal investigation, with Homeland Security Investigations agents carrying out a judicially authorized search warrant.

The Justice Department said the enforcement action was "part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation" while providing no other details about the nature or scope of the probe.

Image from 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS
Image: 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS

Omar’s office denied wrongdoing and called the raid "an outrageous abuse of power and an unprecedented escalation in the weaponization of federal law enforcement to target political enemies."

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin previously said there was an "ongoing investigation" and that "something’s going to happen," and the search took place just weeks before the midterm elections.

Omar, who represents Minnesota’s 5th District, said in a statement on social media that she was "ok" and that the search was "an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement."

Reporting for this sectionAP NewsABC News

Timing and claims

Omar condemned the search as political intimidation, writing, "I’m ok. Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement," and adding, "I will not be silenced."

The BBC reported that the Justice Department spokesperson said the search was "part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation," while the investigation’s details remained unclear.

Image from ABC News
Image: ABC News

Jacklyn Rogers, Omar’s communications director, called the raid "an outrageous abuse of power" and said, "The Congresswoman has done nothing wrong."

Tom Homan said the search warrant was executed and that the Department of Justice was leading the investigation, while he said, "I can confirm that a search warrant was executed this morning, signed by a judge."

The BBC also described a longstanding Justice Department practice of advising prosecutors not to take overt investigative steps against members of Congress or candidates within 60 days of an election, and the search came with 22 days until the midterm elections.

Reporting for this sectionAl JazeeraBBC

Immigration paperwork focus

Fox News reported that the search was linked to allegations of immigration fraud involving paperwork submitted by Omar’s late father when she was a child, and no charges had been announced.

ABC News said sources told it the investigation related to Omar’s immigration paperwork, and it noted that the midterm elections take place in 22 days with early voting starting in Minnesota later this week.

The Justice Department confirmed the warrant was secured by the department, and the operation was described as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.

In a separate interview, Vice President JD Vance said, "How do you go after her? How do you investigate her? How do you actually do the thing?" while discussing how to investigate Omar for immigration fraud allegations.

Omar denied any wrongdoing and said the investigation was a "complete shams," while the BBC reported that Omar had not been charged with a crime and that her immigration records had been scrutinised in the past by Republicans.

Reporting for this sectionAl JazeeraBBC