Federal agents search the home of Rep. Ilhan Omar
The Justice Department cites an ongoing criminal investigation, Omar denounces intimidation and no charges have been filed, three weeks before the Nov. 3 election.
Federal agents searched the home of Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar in the Washington area on Monday, Oct. 12. Omar, who came to the United States from Somalia as a child, represents Minneapolis in the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Congress, and is running for a fifth term.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), an arm of the Department of Homeland Security, carried out the operation, according to AP, via PBS NewsHour. The Justice Department confirmed the action and described it as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, without giving further details. No charges have been filed against Omar.
A person familiar with the case told Reuters, according to Al Jazeera, that the probe relates to alleged immigration fraud and to documents her late father signed during her childhood. No authority has confirmed that. Omar rejects the accusations, which Vice President JD Vance had made earlier without presenting evidence.
The congresswoman called the search the "latest escalation" in what she says is a campaign of intimidation by President Donald Trump, and said she will not be silenced, according to PBS NewsHour. Trump responded hours later that he had "nothing to do" with it and that the decision rests with Justice.
House Democratic leaders Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar called the search "deeply disturbing" and promised to demand accountability. Their complaint points to a Justice Department policy of avoiding overt action against candidates in the 60 days before an election. It is an internal norm, not a law, so it cannot be enforced. Randall Eliason, a law professor, told Al Jazeera the norm appears to have been broken here.
The Justice Department's Public Integrity Section, which used to review investigations of lawmakers, is down to about two lawyers from between 35 and 40, according to Al Jazeera. Justice has not said what it is investigating or whether charges will come before Nov. 3.
