Josh Weiner
Federal agents searched the Washington home of Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar on Monday, part of a years-long criminal investigation examining allegations tied to her immigration history. The search was carried out by agents with Homeland Security Investigations.
The inquiry, which also involves the U.S. Attorney’s office in Minneapolis and the Justice Department, has drawn on whistleblower accounts, documents and witness testimony gathered over an extended period, according to people familiar with the matter. While the probe touches on immigration and fraud allegations, those familiar with it say its scope extends further.
A person familiar with the investigation said the immigration-related component centers on paperwork filed on Omar’s behalf when she was a child, submitted by her late father as the family resettled in the United States after fleeing Somalia’s civil war. Omar, who has represented Minnesota’s Fifth Congressional District since 2019, has not been charged with any crime in connection with the search.
Omar confirmed the search publicly, describing it as the latest escalation in what she characterized as a campaign of political intimidation directed at her by the Trump administration, and said she would not be silenced by the action.
The timing of the search has drawn particular scrutiny. Federal prosecutors have traditionally avoided high-profile investigative actions against candidates in the weeks immediately before an election, a norm meant to limit the appearance of using law enforcement to influence electoral outcomes. Omar is on the ballot next month.
Omar has been a frequent target of criticism from the Trump administration and its allies since entering Congress, and has previously faced scrutiny over matters ranging from campaign finance questions to her foreign policy positions. Neither the Justice Department nor Homeland Security Investigations has detailed publicly what, if any, findings the search of her home produced.
