Rep. Ilhan Omar challenges what she calls a politically driven federal raid on her home
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Rep. Ilhan Omar’s lawyers say a Justice Department search of her Washington, D.C., residence was a vindictive attack aimed at a prominent critic of President Donald Trump, and they are demanding the return of seized materials.
Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar has filed a letter with the Justice Department challenging a recent search of her Washington, D.C., home that was carried out under an immigration-fraud investigation. The letter, obtained by CNN, says the investigation is aimed at one of President Donald Trump’s leading congressional critics and violates Omar’s constitutional protections.
The search, executed on Monday after a federal magistrate approved a warrant, focused on alleged false statements on government documents and a possible conspiracy. Omar’s attorneys, Amy Jeffress and Joshua Matz, said the warrant was “vindictive, retributive, and politically motivated” and argued that it violated the congresswoman’s rights, including those protected by the Speech or Debate Clause.
"This vindictive, retributive, and politically motivated criminal investigation into one of the President’s chief congressional critics violates Representative Omar’s constitutional rights and threatens the separation of powers," the attorneys said.
The lawyers also raised procedural concerns, including that the House Office of General Counsel was not notified until after the search became public and that no Justice Department official was present to read Omar her privileges. They asked that all audio and video recordings made during the search be preserved and that any materials protected by the Speech or Debate Clause be identified.
Omar, a naturalized citizen since 2000 after fleeing Somalia, denied any wrongdoing related to her citizenship status. The attorneys said the search took place less than three weeks before Election Day, a timing they described as historically unusual for such an intrusive action.
The Justice Department has not responded to requests for comment.