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Ongoing1 earlier update

This story has run 2 times, starting Oct 13.

  1. Federal agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar's home in a criminal immigration-fraud probe, 22 days before her election
  2. UpdateFederal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro opens a review of Ilhan Omar's financial disclosures a day after agents searched her home; Trump says he takes 'no position' on deporting her — this issue
FOX NEWSUpdate

Federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro opens a review of Ilhan Omar's financial disclosures a day after agents searched her home; Trump says he takes 'no position' on deporting her

Political Guyentist · October 14, 20263 min read

FOX NEWS

The disclosures under review valued husband Tim Mynett's two businesses at $15,000–$51,000 for 2023 and $6 million–$30 million for 2024. Omar has not been charged with anything.

Homeland Security Investigations agents (ICE's criminal-investigation arm) searched the Washington home of Ilhan Omar (Rep-D Minnesota) on Monday, Oct. 12, under a court-authorized warrant. The probe reportedly centers on immigration paperwork her late father filled out when she was a child. The search came 22 days before the Nov. 3 midterms.

The second probe. On Tuesday, Oct. 13, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said her office is also examining Omar's financial disclosures.

The White House. Trump called Omar "a terrible person" and "a terrible congresswoman" but said "I don't take a position" on deporting her and that the case is up to the Justice Department.

The Justice Department. It rejected the claim that its policy bars investigative steps within 60 days of an election. ([TS]True to the letter: there's no fixed blackout, but DOJ's manual bars timing any step to sway an election.)

Omar. She called the search "an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement" and turned it into a fundraising appeal. Democrats say privately they expect more "October surprises."

Still open. Neither probe has produced a charge, and the reporting has not shown that the immigration case and the money review are connected.

Catch upwhat happened before · 1 earlier issue

On Monday, Oct. 12, Homeland Security Investigations agents searched Omar's Washington home in a criminal immigration-fraud probe, 22 days before the Nov. 3 election. The case reportedly turns on papers her late father filled out when she was a child; she became a citizen in 2000, at 17.

BackgroundWhat DOJ's own rules require before searching a lawmaker's home3 facts
  • The Public Integrity Section in Washington must approve any warrant covering a member of Congress's property.
  • Prosecutors may never time a search, charge or statement to affect an election or a candidate.
  • Even the appearance of election timing requires a consultation with the Public Integrity Section first.

What we’re less sure of3 of 8 claims

Red take

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney, is right to make Ilhan Omar, the Minnesota Democrat, explain filings that value her husband's two businesses at $15,000–$51,000 for 2023 and $6 million–$30 million for 2024. Reading a form a congresswoman signed charges no one, and no fixed rule pauses it before a vote. Shelve it until after Nov. 3, and every incumbent learns her disclosures go unread while she is on a ballot.

Blue take

Announcing a money review of Ilhan Omar, the Minnesota Democrat, one day after agents searched her home and three weeks before the Nov. 3 midterms puts a charge in voters' heads that no prosecutor has filed. The Justice Department's own manual bars timing any step to sway an election, and her filings will read the same on Nov. 4. Waiting costs the case nothing; announcing now lets voters convict a candidate on suspicion alone.