US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has accused the Trump administration of political intimidation after federal agents searched her home near Washington as part of a criminal investigation.
WASHINGTON (Somali Report) — US Representative Ilhan Omar said Monday that a federal search of her home near Washington was an attempt to intimidate political opponents of President Donald Trump, as authorities confirmed the operation was part of a federal criminal investigation.
Omar, a Democratic congresswoman representing Minnesota, said in a post on X that Trump had spent a decade making baseless accusations against her and conducting what she described as a campaign to damage her reputation.
She characterized the search as the latest example of political pressure and vowed not to be silenced by what she called attacks against her.
The US Justice Department confirmed that officers from the Department of Homeland Security had executed a court-authorized search warrant at Omar's residence.
The department said the operation was connected to a federal criminal investigation but did not disclose its specific focus or identify any allegations against the congresswoman.
Senior House Democrats expressed concern over the search, raising questions about whether government institutions were being used against Trump's political opponents.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Whip Katherine Clark and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar called for transparency about the reasons behind the operation and accountability for any abuse of government authority.
Tom Homan, Trump's border czar, had previously said that matters involving Omar were under investigation but declined to provide details.
Homan confirmed Monday that the search warrant had been executed, saying further information would have to come from officials at the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security.
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CNN reported that officers removed boxes from the residence and photographed the interior before leaving the property. The authorities have not publicly explained what evidence they were seeking or whether any material seized during the search was connected to suspected criminal activity.
The search comes just weeks before the US midterm elections, with Omar preparing to seek another term in the House of Representatives.
According to CNN, more than 127,000 people had already cast ballots in Minnesota, where early voting was underway.
The timing could draw additional scrutiny because Justice Department policies are designed to prevent criminal investigations and prosecutions from being used to influence elections. Such safeguards include restrictions concerning politically sensitive investigative actions in the 60 days before an election.
Sources familiar with the matter told CNN that senior Justice Department officials approved the search following extensive consultations and that a federal judge had authorized the warrant.
Omar, who was born in Somalia, arrived in the United States as a child after fleeing the country's civil war. She later became a US citizen and was first elected to Congress in 2018, becoming one of the country's most prominent progressive lawmakers.
Trump and some members of his administration have previously accused her of marrying her brother to facilitate his immigration to the United States. CNN has reported that evidence substantiating the allegation has not been presented.
Authorities have not disclosed whether those allegations are connected to the investigation that led to Monday's search.
Neither the Justice Department nor the Department of Homeland Security has publicly provided further details about the investigation, leaving questions about its scope and the reasons for targeting Omar's residence unanswered.
About the Author
Ahmed Omar is a senior journalist for Somali Report, based in Mogadishu. He has two decades of experience reporting on Somalia for international and local media. He covers politics, security, governance, business, trade, economic developments and regional affairs.
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