Feds search US Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home in criminal investigation

Omar dismissed the search as another instance of political retribution by the Trump administration.(CN) — Federal agents searched U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar’s home early Monday morning as part of a criminal investigation, weeks ahead of the midterm elections in which Omar seeks to retain her seat in Congress.Homeland Security Investigations agents conducted the search of Omar’s Washington, D.C. home, according to reports, though little detail as to the nature of the warrant or investigation has come to light.On her personal social media account, Omar, a Democrat and U.S. citizen born in Somalia, said Monday’s search is just the “latest escalation” in a long-running political intimidation campaign against her by President Donald Trump and his Republican allies.“This is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement,” she said. “For 10 years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns… I will not be silenced.”Monday’s occurred a few weeks before November’s midterm elections, in which Omar is running for her fifth term in the House representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District. Historically, law enforcement actions in the weeks leading up to elections have been cautioned against.House Democrats said in a statement Monday the raid on Omar’s home is “deeply disturbing” and raises questions about Trump’s weaponization of the federal government.“For years, Donald Trump and far-right extremists have relentlessly targeted Congresswoman Omar with vile personal attacks and baseless accusations,” the group, including House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, said in the statement. “Now, less than 30 days until the midterm election, his violent mass deportation machine has descended upon the home of a duly elected member of Congress and her family.”Minnesota Governor Tim Walz shared similar sentiments in a post on X Monday.Trump administration officials have long criticized and signaled intent to investigate Omar — with Vice President J.D. Vance notably claiming on a right-wing podcast hosted by Benny Johnson in March that she committed immigration fraud against the United States.Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin similarly said last month there was an “ongoing investigation” related to Omar’s immigration status, according to reports.Omar fired back at Trump and other administration officials’ accusations of fraud against her and the Somali community in a June op-ed — pointing to Trump’s own questionable financial history while calling him “the biggest fraudster our country has ever seen.”Reports indicate Republicans have also raised questions about Omar’s past dating back to 2009, asserting she married her brother to help him secure legal status, though no official proof has substantiated the claim.Omar’s office has repeatedly dismissed the claims as “disgusting lies."Trump has frequently targeted Omar’s Somali heritage, infamously referring to her as “garbage” and “crooked” last December, while suggesting Somali Americans should “go back to where they came from and fix it,” and that Omar “should be thrown the hell out of our country.”Trump recently urged Minnesotans to “fight back” against the Somali community in the state in a Truth Social post, claiming the state is being “taken over by Somali immigrants.”Omar said in response that Trump’s “obsession with demonizing the Somali community is dangerous and reprehensible.”Omar is a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement campaign — and has frequently condemned the actions taken by officials and federal agents throughout Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota.Born in Somalia in 1982, Omar spent four years in a refugee camp in Kenya before immigrating to the country and becoming a naturalized citizen in 2000. She was one of the first two Muslim-American women in the House, and the first African refugee to be elected.Omar was first elected to the House in 2018 and represents an area including Minneapolis. She is part of an informal progressive and left-wing faction of the Democratic Caucus in the House called “The Squad,” which frequently draws the ire of the president.Homeland Security referred a comment request to the Justice Department, which did not respond by press time.Omar’s office also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads