Oct. 12 Federal agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar's D.C. home

The feds close in on Ilhan Omar

Federal agents searched Rep. Ilhan Omar's Washington home on Oct. 12 and seized her phone, notebooks and computer in an investigation of alleged false statements on her immigration paperwork. A new federal filing in D.C. names her "Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar," and alleges her ex-husband Ahmed Nur Said Elmi is her brother.

Why it matters for the GOP

Border czar Tom Homan said in September that DHS and ICE are examining claims Omar entered a "sham marriage" to help someone get citizenship. Rep. Randy Fine (R-Fla.) says he will seek her expulsion if the DOJ finds her guilty of immigration fraud.

The pushback

Omar has not been charged, denies wrongdoing and says her name is Ilhan Abdullahi Omar. Her office calls the search "an unprecedented escalation in the weaponization of federal law enforcement," and Minnesota AG Keith Ellison accuses the administration of a "war on Minnesota." Defense lawyers note that most immigration fraud charges have a 10-year limit.

Sources (3)

More in 🏛️ Washington Watch

🏛️ Washington Watch 🔥🔥Hot

5 TV networks under a DOJ antitrust probe

Trump vs. the networks

The Justice Department opened an antitrust investigation into ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News after the networks jointly refused to fill in for CNN in the White House TV pool. That came after the White House barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico.

Why it matters for the GOP

The DOJ's position is that "group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act." Many Republicans see the networks acting as a bloc against the President.

The pushback

Press-freedom groups call the probe an attempt to intimidate journalists, and a federal judge temporarily restored the banned outlets' passes.

Sources (2)

🏛️ Washington Watch 🔥🔥Hot

20,000 names DOJ flagged as likely noncitizens on California's rolls

DOJ steps into the election

The Justice Department sued California and Los Angeles County to set aside mail ballots tied to about 20,000 people it calls likely noncitizens. It also sued Alaska over a newcomer named Daniel J. Sullivan on the Senate ballot, and says it will send its largest-ever team of election observers to the polls on Nov. 3. The DOJ has asked an appeals court to fast-track the California case.

Why it matters for the GOP

The Justice Department says it is protecting citizens' votes from being diluted by illegal ones. In Alaska, it asks a judge to block certification only if the namesake candidate wins by a close margin, which could confuse voters choosing Sen. Dan Sullivan. Trump says, "I'm the one that said, do it." The Supreme Court also let New Hampshire bar student IDs as proof of identity at the polls.

The pushback

California officials call the noncitizen list unsupported, and experts warn that matching voter and immigration data produces false positives. Sen. Sullivan's own campaign called the Alaska suit a political stunt, and Attorney General Todd Blanche declined to rule out DOJ stepping into state election certification in a "doomsday scenario."

Sources (4)

See all hot topics →