Federal agents searched Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home in the Washington, D.C., area early Monday, according to a Department of Justice spokesperson. The search was conducted as part of an active criminal investigation.
“Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant in the Washington, D.C., area today,” a Justice Department spokesperson said. “The warrant was obtained by the Department of Justice, and this enforcement action is connected to an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
In a social media statement Monday, Omar said she was “ok” and accused officials of using federal law enforcement to pursue political opponents. She described the search of her residence as “an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement.”
“I will not be silenced,” Omar added.
It was not immediately known whether Omar was home when federal agents carried out the search.
Tom Homan, the White House border czar, acknowledged the investigation during a Monday interview with Fox News but declined to provide substantive details. Homan said he did not want to preempt Attorney General Todd Blanche on issues connected to the case.
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“I can confirm that a search warrant was executed this morning and signed by a judge,” Homan said. He added that the Justice Department is directing the investigation with the Department of Homeland Security. “There is an investigation. I won’t get into the specifics of the criminal investigation.”
At a rally Saturday, President Donald Trump directed a series of disparaging remarks at Omar and Somalia, questioning the country’s government and institutions. He also criticized Omar’s reliance on the U.S. Constitution and claimed that Somali immigrants had harmed Minnesota, while saying Vice President JD Vance and other officials were examining the matter closely.
Trump has also written on social media this year that Omar “should be in jail” and should be “sent back to Somalia.”
Those comments have prompted criticism. Omar said earlier this year that threats against her had “skyrocket[ed]” in response to Trump’s rhetoric.
The White House directed requests for comment to the Justice Department.
Vance, whom the administration has assigned to oversee its so-called “anti-fraud efforts,” said at a White House briefing in May that officials planned to examine allegations of immigration fraud involving Omar.
Homan said in a Fox News interview last month that the Department of Homeland Security was investigating Omar. At the time, he declined to describe the allegations in detail, citing an “ongoing criminal investigation.”