Federal officers carry out search at Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar’s DC-area home
Federal officers early on Monday executed a search warrant at the DC-area home of Rep. Ilhan Omar, the Minnesota congresswoman who has been the persistent target of ire from President Donald Trump’s administration, according to a Justice Department spokesperson and a source familiar with the matter.
The Department of Justice said in a statement on Monday that investigators from Homeland Security Investigations, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security that handles criminal investigations, “executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
“This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation,” a DOJ spokesperson said.
The statement did not indicate what the investigation entailed. CNN has reached out to DHS and Omar for comment.
Omar is currently running for reelection and the search warrant was executed only weeks before the midterms.
Department policy also bars prosecutors and investigative agents from selecting timing in an investigation so that it would influence an election.
The Department also has special policies requiring additional approvals within the Justice Department when investigations involve a member of Congress, and the Constitution provides additional protections for members of Congress around their papers and communications that relate to their legislative work.
While authorities have not said what prompted the search, administration officials have previously indicated that she was facing an investigation.
White House Border Czar Tom Homan said on Fox News last month that “things are going on” in relation to Omar, before adding: “But I can’t give the specifics of what’s happening.”
Speaking to Fox on Monday morning, Homan confirmed the search warrant was executed, but provided no other information.
“The specifics of the investigation, I think I need to turn that over to Todd Blanche or Markwayne Mullin,” he said. “I don’t want to get ahead of them commenting on an ongoing investigation.”
The Department of Justice said in a statement on Monday that investigators from Homeland Security Investigations, a branch of the Department of Homeland Security that handles criminal investigations, “executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
“This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation,” a DOJ spokesperson said.
The statement did not indicate what the investigation entailed. CNN has reached out to DHS and Omar for comment.
Omar is currently running for reelection and the search warrant was executed only weeks before the midterms.
Department policy also bars prosecutors and investigative agents from selecting timing in an investigation so that it would influence an election.
The Department also has special policies requiring additional approvals within the Justice Department when investigations involve a member of Congress, and the Constitution provides additional protections for members of Congress around their papers and communications that relate to their legislative work.
While authorities have not said what prompted the search, administration officials have previously indicated that she was facing an investigation.
White House Border Czar Tom Homan said on Fox News last month that “things are going on” in relation to Omar, before adding: “But I can’t give the specifics of what’s happening.”
Speaking to Fox on Monday morning, Homan confirmed the search warrant was executed, but provided no other information.
“The specifics of the investigation, I think I need to turn that over to Todd Blanche or Markwayne Mullin,” he said. “I don’t want to get ahead of them commenting on an ongoing investigation.”
