Federal agents searched the Washington home of US Representative Ilhan Omar on Monday morning. The move has raised new questions about a federal probe and claims made by Republicans about her past.
Three people familiar with the matter said the search took place at Omar’s home in Washington, DC. Homeland Security Investigations carried out the action. The agency is part of the Department of Homeland Security and probes federal crimes.
The Justice Department confirmed that it had secured a court-approved warrant for a law enforcement action on Monday. However, it did not name Omar or explain which case led to the search.
The department said the search was part of an ongoing federal criminal probe. It gave no further details about the case or the evidence agents may have sought.
President Donald Trump was asked about the search at the White House. He said he understood that officials were looking closely at Omar. He also called her a terrible person but said the Justice Department was responsible for the case.
Trump denied having a role in the action. His remarks came as the search drew fresh attention to the long-running dispute between his allies and the Minnesota lawmaker.
Last month, US officials said federal authorities were looking into claims that Omar had entered the country unlawfully by using false immigration papers. Omar and her team have repeatedly denied that she took part in immigration fraud.
Omar responded to the latest action on social media. She said the search was an effort to target political rivals and use federal law enforcement against them.
She also accused Trump of spreading false claims about her for years. Omar described the search as a new step in what she called a campaign of political pressure.
Omar represents Minnesota in the House of Representatives. She is the first Somali American lawmaker in the United States. She came to the country in 1995 at the age of 12.
The search has also raised questions about its timing. Omar is seeking another term in Congress and won the Democratic primary in her district. The general election is set for November.
Federal law enforcement agencies have often avoided major public steps in politically sensitive cases close to an election. The Justice Department has a policy known as the 60-day blackout period.
During this period, officials usually avoid public actions in cases that could affect an election or appear to be driven by politics. Such actions may include indictments or search warrants in cases involving political figures.
The policy is not required by law. Still, it is meant to protect public trust in federal investigations and reduce concerns that officials could influence voters.
The rule has been at the center of political disputes before. In 2016, then-FBI Director James B. Comey faced criticism over statements about an inquiry into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. Clinton was the Democratic candidate for president at the time.
Trump also raised the blackout rule in 2024. He accused special counsel Jack Smith of breaking it after Smith filed evidence in court about Trump’s alleged efforts to block the 2020 election result.
In that case, Smith and his team were responding to a court deadline. They were not choosing to announce a new public law enforcement action.
A government official said the Justice Department followed its review process before carrying out the search of Omar’s home. The official said the department consulted its Public Integrity Section, which reviews cases that may raise concerns about political influence.
Attorney General Todd Blanche approved the warrant, the official said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing.
The consultation is important because the Public Integrity Section is meant to help guard against political interference in federal cases. However, the Trump administration has sharply reduced the office’s role and has often left it out of sensitive investigations.
The Justice Department has not publicly explained what agents were seeking at Omar’s home. It has also not announced any charges linked to Monday’s search.
The action does not by itself establish that Omar committed a crime. The claims about her immigration history remain disputed, and she has denied wrongdoing.
The search is likely to keep attention on the role of federal law enforcement during an election year. It also raises questions about how officials apply internal rules when a case involves an elected lawmaker.
For now, the investigation remains ongoing. Further details about the evidence, the purpose of the search and any possible legal action have not been made public.
