Mullin Says Omar Investigation Is a Large Case Involving Others

Mullin said Homeland Security Investigations had conducted extensive work before sending its case involving Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar to the Justice Department, which is leading the investigation. He rejected claims that the inquiry is politically motivated and said investigators apply the law regardless of a person’s office or party affiliation.

A court filing this week said the investigation involves Omar and other people, without identifying them or describing their alleged roles. Agents searched Omar’s Washington residence on October 12 and, the same day, searched the home of her sister, Sahra Noor, where they took boxes of documents. More than a dozen people, including relatives, have received grand jury subpoenas. The grand jury is in Minnesota.

Omar has not been charged. She denies wrongdoing and has called the investigation politically motivated. Her lawyers have asked federal authorities to return seized materials and devices. A separate review of her financial disclosures has also been opened.

Over 170 Democratic members of the House called on the Justice Department Monday to terminate the inquiry, citing a 2019 assessment conducted under Trump’s first presidency that concluded there was not enough evidence to substantiate wrongdoing. Former President Barack Obama also criticized selective targeting in a post on October 18. Omar is on the ballot Tuesday, and Attorney General Todd Blanche authorized the search warrant; a court filing said he attested that its timing was not intended to affect an election.

Omar Probe Near Election Raises Concerns About Political Targeting

The federal investigation of Rep. Ilhan Omar is moving forward as she faces voters, and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is insisting that the case is not political. Omar has not been charged, denies wrongdoing and says the probe is politically motivated. That denial deserves serious attention when federal action touches a sitting congresswoman so close to an election.

Mullin said his department sent a large case to the Justice Department, which is leading the inquiry. A court filing says investigators are examining Omar and other people, but gives no names or details about their possible roles. Agents searched her Washington home on October 12 and also searched the home of her sister, Sahra Noor, removing boxes of documents. More than a dozen subpoenas have gone out, including to relatives.

Over 170 Democratic members of Congress are asking the Justice Department to close the inquiry, referring to a 2019 assessment under Trump that found too little evidence to substantiate wrongdoing. Obama warned on October 18 against selectively targeting people for their political beliefs. Mullin denies that is happening, but his assurances do not erase the timing or the stakes for Omar and voters. Her lawyers are seeking the return of seized materials and devices, while a separate review of her financial disclosures is underway.

Mullin Says Omar Probe Applies the Law Regardless of Party

Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin says investigators are doing their job, not staging a political prosecution. He said Homeland Security Investigations built a large case and presented it to the Justice Department, which is leading the inquiry. His central point is straightforward: a person’s title or party should not exempt them from the law.

The investigation extends beyond Rep. Ilhan Omar, a court filing says, though it does not identify other people or explain their possible roles. Agents searched Omar’s Washington residence on October 12 and also searched her sister Sahra Noor’s home, taking boxes of documents. More than a dozen recipients, including relatives, have been subpoenaed by a Minnesota grand jury. Omar has not been charged and denies wrongdoing.

Over 170 Democratic representatives want the Justice Department to end the inquiry, referring to a 2019 assessment that concluded there was too little evidence to substantiate wrongdoing. But their demand does not settle the matter now being investigated. Mullin says the department will enforce the law regardless of political affiliation, while Omar calls the case politically motivated. Her lawyers are seeking the return of seized items, and a separate review of her financial disclosures has opened. The Justice Department, not Mullin, is leading the investigation.