US agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home in criminal investigation: AP sources

WASHINGTON — Federal agents searched the home of the Democratic U.S. representative on Monday. Ilhan Omarfrequent target of criticism from the Trump administration, as part of a criminal investigation, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The search was conducted by agents from Homeland Security Investigations, said the sources, who were not authorized to publicly discuss an ongoing investigation and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Further details about the investigation were not immediately clear, although Vice President JD Vance has in the past accused Omar of committing immigration fraud — an allegation she has denied — and said he and a senior White House official were trying to figure out how to investigate the Minnesota congresswoman.

An email seeking comment was sent Monday to a representative for Omar.

The Justice Department said in a statement Monday that HSI agents executed a judicially authorized search warrant obtained by the department in the Washington, D.C., area, but provided no further details. The street was blocked off Monday morning as HSI officers remained near the home.

“This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation,” the department said.

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security, which includes Homeland Security Investigations, referred questions about the search to the Justice Department.

Omar represents Minnesota’s 5th District, including Minneapolis. She was first elected to the House in 2018 and was a member of the so-called The team of female lawmakers known for their progressive views and outspoken opposition to President Donald Trump, a Republican.

Republicans raised questions about Omar’s past even before she was elected, including claims that she married her brother and committed immigration fraud. Omar has largely denied the allegations. “disgusting lies”.

“It certainly seems like there’s something fishy going on, but everyone is entitled to equal justice under the laws,” Vance told reporters in May. “So we’re going to investigate. We’re going to take a look at it. If we think there’s a crime, we’re going to prosecute that crime.”

In a separate interview with conservative podcaster Benny Johnson, Vance said without providing evidence that “we actually believe that Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud against the United States of America.”

He said he and the White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller had discussed it and “tried to see what the remedies were”.

“That’s what we’re trying to understand,” he said. “What are the legal remedies now that we know she committed immigration fraud. How do you prosecute her? How do you investigate her? How do you actually do the thing? How do you build the case necessary to get some justice for the American people?”

In March, Omar’s office rejected Vance’s allegations, calling them fabricated and defamatory.

“This is very rewarding from someone who literally said he was willing to ‘create stories’ to redirect the media,” Omar’s chief of staff, Connor McNutt, said in a statement.

“This is a ridiculous lie and a desperate attempt to distract from the party’s unpopular war on child molesters, rising gas prices and rapidly declining poll numbers,” McNutt said of the allegations and the vice president’s comments.

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Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Michelle L. Price and River Zhang in Washington, Kathy McCormack in Concord, N.H., Mike Catalini in Morrisville, Pa., and Meg Kinnard in Columbia, S.C., contributed.