Politics
DOJ Puts Ilhan Omar’s Family In Its Crosshairs As Investigation Enters New Phase
Federal investigators have subpoenaed Rep. Ilhan Omar’s sister and at least one other person in her family circle as they examine possible fraud and false statements in immigration paperwork, according to The New York Times.
Sahra Noor, a health care professional and author, received one of the subpoenas, people familiar with the investigation told the newspaper. The disclosure follows Monday’s search of the Minnesota Democrat’s Washington home, where Department of Homeland Security agents carried out boxes of documents.
Part of the investigation centers on Omar’s late father, Nur Omar Mohamed, and whether he lied or omitted information on immigration forms before becoming a U.S. citizen, the Times reported.
The full scope of the inquiry remains unclear. Grand jury subpoenas are used to gather evidence of possible crimes and do not, by themselves, mean the recipients are under investigation.
President Donald Trump weighed in Tuesday, suggesting on social media that Omar had committed immigration fraud and engaged in fraud to make millions of dollars.
“America wants answers, and we want them, NOW!” he said.
Omar has repeatedly denied wrongdoing involving immigration matters. After Monday’s search, she accused the Trump administration of seeking “to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement.”
Noor did not respond to the Times’ requests for comment, including emails and a call answered by someone who identified herself as Noor’s daughter. The newspaper’s sources spoke anonymously to discuss investigative steps.
POLL: Should Ilhan Omar Be Deported If Found Guilty Of Immigration Fraud?
The search and subpoenas come just weeks before Election Day, when federal law enforcement officials generally avoid overt investigative actions that could be seen as helping or hurting a candidate. Prosecutors sometimes proceed when they believe evidence could be destroyed or additional crimes could occur.
The timing has drawn objections from administration critics, including Norman Eisen, an attorney who has repeatedly sued the Trump administration.
Eisen said Tuesday that a nonprofit group he works for had asked the Office of Special Counsel to investigate whether administration officials violated the Hatch Act by “orchestrating” the search of Omar’s home. The office enforces the law’s restrictions on federal employees’ political activities.
RELATED: Ilhan Omar’s Staffers Got Her Birthdate Officially Changed After Being Elected To Congress
“Officials can’t use criminal power to affect an election,” Eisen wrote on social media. “This is the textbook case.”
Randall Eliason, a former federal prosecutor and retired law professor, also questioned the department’s conduct. He acknowledged, however, that he could not reach a firm conclusion without seeing the search warrant affidavit.
Eliason said the Trump Justice Department had “sort of forfeited the right to a presumption of regularity,” referring to the legal principle under which judges presume prosecutors are acting in good faith.
“With all of the other things they have done to politicize the department and use its power to go after the president’s enemies,” he continued, “it certainly looks extremely suspicious. But without seeing the search warrant affidavit, you can’t say for certain.”
