Omar Lawyers Accuse DOJ of Violating Search Order, Seek Return of Seized Phone
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Oct 17
Omar Lawyers Accuse DOJ of Violating Search Order, Seek Return of Seized Phone
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Oct 17
Summary
An Oct. 16 letter from Rep. Ilhan Omar’s lawyers says the Justice Department breached a magistrate judge’s conditions during Monday’s search of her Washington home and demands her property be returned.
The attorneys say agents failed to notify Omar and the House general counsel, blocked her from contacting counsel for more than an hour, and seized materials including her personal cellphone despite protocols meant to protect legislative privilege.
Those safeguards were added after a judge questioned the warrant and invoked the 2007 Rayburn precedent, which bars executive review of seized congressional materials before the member can screen them for Speech or Debate protections.
DOJ called the allegations false and said agents complied with all court orders, but the search and related grand jury subpoenas have drawn scrutiny because they came days before an election and after DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin publicly described the case as strong.