Federal Agents Subpoena Omar Family in Immigration Probe After Seizing Congresswoman's Phone
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Oct 14
Federal Agents Subpoena Omar Family in Immigration Probe After Seizing Congresswoman's Phone
3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Oct 14
Summary
Roughly a dozen subpoenas tied to a Minnesota grand jury were sent Friday in a federal immigration probe involving Rep. Ilhan Omar, with family members targeted but Omar herself not subpoenaed.
Federal agents also seized Omar’s phone during a search of her Washington home this week as investigators examined possible conspiracy and false-statement violations tied to immigration paperwork and her status, including her birthdate.
The case is being handled by Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. attorney in Minneapolis and the Justice Department, with one source saying it is backed by whistleblowers, documents and witness testimony.
Three weeks before the midterms, the search and phone seizure raise added sensitivity because DOJ typically avoids overt steps near elections and must follow special protocols when investigating a sitting member of Congress.
Omar called the investigation political intimidation by Trump, who said the government was looking at her "very carefully" after months of public attacks from him and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.