Federal agents searched the Washington home of US Representative Ilhan Omar on Monday morning. The search has raised fresh questions about a federal criminal probe and its timing before the November election.
Three people familiar with the matter said the search took place at Omar’s home in Washington, DC. Homeland Security Investigations carried out the operation. The agency is part of the Department of Homeland Security and investigates federal crimes.
The Justice Department confirmed that it had obtained a court-approved warrant for a law enforcement action. However, it did not name Omar or explain what the investigation was about.
In a statement, the department said the search was part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. It did not provide further details about the case or the items agents may have sought.
President Donald Trump was asked about the search at the White House. He said he understood that officials were examining Omar closely. He also called her a terrible person but said the Justice Department was in charge of the matter.
Trump denied having any role in the search. His comments came as the action drew renewed attention to the long-running political dispute between Omar and Republican figures.
Last month, US officials said federal authorities were investigating claims that Omar may have entered the country unlawfully by using false immigration papers. Omar and her team have repeatedly denied the claims of immigration fraud.
Omar responded to the search on social media. She accused the government of targeting political rivals and using federal law enforcement for political ends.
She also said Trump had targeted her with what she called false claims for years. She described the search as another step in a campaign of political pressure against her.
Omar represents Minnesota in the US House of Representatives. She is the first Somali American lawmaker in the country. She came to the United States in 1995, when she was 12 years old.
The timing of the search has drawn added attention because Omar is seeking another term in Congress. She won the Democratic primary in her district and is due to face voters again in November.
The Justice Department has a policy often called the 60-day blackout period. During this time, officials usually avoid public steps in politically sensitive cases that could affect an election or appear to be driven by political goals.
Such steps can include indictments and search warrants in cases involving political figures. The policy aims to protect trust in federal law enforcement and reduce concerns that official actions could shape voter choices.
The rule is not required by law. However, it has played a role in past disputes over how federal agencies handle cases near an election.
In 2016, then-FBI Director James B. Comey faced criticism over public statements about an investigation into Hillary Clinton’s use of a private email server. Clinton was the Democratic candidate for president that year.
Trump also raised the issue in 2024. He accused special counsel Jack Smith of violating the blackout period 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 judge’s deadline. They were not choosing to launch a new public law enforcement action.
A government official said the Justice Department followed its review process before the search of Omar’s home. The official said the department consulted its Public Integrity Section because the timing could raise questions about political influence.
Attorney General Todd Blanche approved the warrant, the official said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation remains active.
The Public Integrity Section is meant to review cases that could raise concerns about political pressure or the fair use of federal power. However, the Trump administration has reduced the office’s role and has often excluded it from politically sensitive investigations.
The Justice Department has not said what evidence led to the search. It has also not announced any charges against Omar linked to Monday’s action.
A search warrant does not prove that a person has committed a crime. The claims about Omar’s immigration history remain disputed, and she has denied any wrongdoing.
The case has raised wider questions about how federal authorities handle investigations involving elected officials during an election year. It has also brought renewed attention to the safeguards meant to keep law enforcement separate from political campaigns.
For now, the federal investigation remains ongoing. Officials have yet to disclose the full purpose of the search, what agents may have taken from the home or whether further legal action is planned.
