Ilhan Omar’s phone seized and relatives subpoenaed in criminal inquiry, source says

Key points

• Federal authorities seized Ilhan Omar's phone and issued over a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to relatives.
• The Minnesota Democrat's Washington DC home was searched Monday, weeks before November midterms.
• Omar said she would not be silenced, calling the search political intimidation.

Federal authorities investigating Minnesota representative Ilhan Omar seized the Democratic lawmaker's phone and issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, according to a person briefed on the inquiry. The subpoenas were issued for a grand jury collecting evidence in Minnesota as authorities probe potential fraud in Omar's immigration paperwork, the person said, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation.

The investigation led to federal agents searching Omar's Washington DC home on Monday, just weeks before the November midterms, in which Omar is seeking re-election. The scope of the investigation is unclear, though Homeland Security secretary Markwayne Mullin has suggested authorities were examining potential crimes related to her family's immigration paperwork.

What officials said

On Tuesday, US attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said in a Fox News interview that there are several investigations related to Omar and that her office is also looking into issues concerning the lawmaker's financial disclosures. "If there was a crime that was committed, it will be prosecuted," Pirro said.

A phone message seeking comment was left on Wednesday with a representative for Omar.

I will not be silenced.

— Ilhan Omar

Reaction and timing

The search of Omar's home so close to next month's midterm contests, which will determine control of the House and the Senate, was swiftly condemned by Democrats, who accused the administration of targeting the representative for political purposes. Omar, in a statement on X, called the search an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement.

Omar said that for 10 years Trump has targeted her with baseless lies and smear campaigns, calling the search the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation. "I will not be silenced," she said. The justice department has historically sought to avoid public investigative actions involving a candidate within 60 days of a primary or general election.