WASHINGTON — Rep. Ilhan Omar said Wednesday that she will have to leave her Washington residence due to safety fears following a federal search of the property last week.
Speaking publicly about the matter for the first time during an interview with MS NOW host Chris Hayes, the Minnesota Democrat said that public disclosure of her location combined with recurring death threats made it unsafe for her family to stay in the home. Her 20-year-old son and husband, Tim Mynett, were present during the Oct. 12 search, which began at 6 a.m. when federal personnel started pounding loudly on the doors.
Details of the Morning Search
Omar recounted that she had slept only two and a half hours after returning from travel when 10 to 15 personnel from Homeland Security Investigations arrived. She stated that she initially worried a fire had broken out or that an emergency had struck a neighbor, according to MS NOW.
After demanding to see a search warrant, Omar said investigators presented documentation authorizing a search between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. She said agents also asked her to sign a waiver relinquishing constitutional protections granted under the Speech or Debate Clause, which shields members of Congress from liability concerning legislative duties. Omar refused to sign the waiver, NBC News reported.
Investigators spent roughly five hours inspecting the residence and confiscated 17 items, Omar said. The taken property included older cellphones belonging to Omar and one of her daughters, as well as notebooks, a camera and a Somali language book owned by her husband. Omar noted that the receipt left by investigators did not list any DNA evidence and said she was not asked for a sample. Although she described the agents as behaving decently and even folding some unsettled clothes, she strongly denounced the premise of the probe.
Immigration Investigation Sparks Political Clash
The criminal inquiry centers on whether inaccurate statements were submitted regarding Omar’s age on immigration forms filed by her late father when her family arrived from Somalia, leading to her citizenship in 2000. A source familiar with the case told NBC News that potential allegations include conspiracy and false statements. Department of Justice veterans have expressed concern about the timing of the enforcement action so close to the midterm elections.
Omar strongly denied any wrongdoing, stating that the federal government already possesses all of her family’s original entry documents. She accused President Donald Trump of orchestrating the action as an act of intimidation, an accusation she also highlighted in a campaign fundraising video posted online Tuesday, according to Fox News.
Trump on Tuesday dismissed claims that he directed the investigation, but he openly criticized Omar to reporters outside the White House, calling her dishonest and suggesting she could face prison or deportation. Border czar Tom Homan previously remarked that proven fraud could lead to the revocation of her naturalized citizenship, Fox News reported.
Next Steps
The Department of Homeland Security directed inquiries to the Justice Department, which has not publicly commented on Omar’s remarks. House protocols regarding material taken from members of Congress are expected to govern the handling of her seized electronic devices as investigators continue their review. Omar said she intends to maintain her campaign schedule ahead of the upcoming midterm voting.
