Federal agents removed 17 items from the Washington, D.C., residence of Minnesota Democratic Representative Ilhan Omar during last week's search, including her cellphone, an old phone, her youngest daughter's phone, her husband's notebooks, a camera he received from his uncle, and a Somali phrase book for children. Omar described the haul as “bizarre” in an interview with MS Now, noting that many of the seized items were notebooks and outdated devices.
“To walk away with 17 items of, like, 10 that were just notebooks and like old phones was such a bizarre, bizarre thing,” she said.
Omar's legal team on Friday formally asked the Justice Department to return the property, arguing that the search—stemming from an ongoing immigration fraud investigation—was “neither justified nor lawful.” The congresswoman has not been charged with any crime and maintains her innocence.
The raid has also raised security concerns for Omar, who said she no longer feels safe in her home. “Obviously, I can’t continue to live there,” she said in her first interview since the search. “I have to figure out where to move to, because our address has been public, and with the death threats that I deal with, it’s no longer going to be feasible to be in that house and have my kids visiting off and on and having people track them.” She has already begun the process of relocating, as reported earlier.
The investigation centers on potential fraud in the immigration paperwork filed for Omar and her family. Federal prosecutors have issued at least 15 subpoenas, including some targeting her relatives. Her older sister, Sahra Noor, was questioned by authorities, according to NewsNation's confirmation.
Omar, who was born in Somalia and became a naturalized U.S. citizen, said she is “confident in the fact that I didn’t do anything wrong.” Reports suggest investigators are scrutinizing whether she and her late father intentionally provided false information about her birth date on immigration documents.
Federal agents also collected garbage from outside Omar's home before the raid, hoping to obtain DNA from her and her family. Sources familiar with the probe told NewsNation that potential DNA evidence is considered critical, and that the case is broader than the public may assume based on longstanding accusations about her immigration history and marital status.
The investigation has drawn political reactions, with some figures questioning the timing. Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty has suggested the probe carries political implications. Meanwhile, public confidence in federal institutions has been waning, as recent polling shows.
Omar's attorneys continue to press for the return of her property, arguing that the seizure was overbroad and unjustified. The congresswoman remains in office and has vowed to cooperate with the investigation while asserting her innocence.
