Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C.-area home of Rep. Ilhan Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, on Monday morning as part of a criminal fraud investigation into immigration paperwork, Fox News reported. The probe centers on documents filled out by Omar's father. Homeland Security Investigations, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, conducted the search, which the Department of Justice later confirmed to CNBC. The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment.
A person familiar with the non-public investigation, who spoke to CNBC on condition of anonymity, described the case as complex and noted it has been ongoing for years. In a statement, the Department of Justice said that Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the department. The agency characterized the action as part of an ongoing federal investigation.
Omar, 44, was born in Somalia and brought to the United States as a child before becoming a U.S. citizen in 2000 at age 17. She was elected to Congress in November 2018 to represent Minnesota's 5th District, a seat that includes all of Minneapolis. Along with Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Omar became one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress.
The raid occurs less than a month before the November midterm elections, with Omar seeking another term in her district. Republican John Nagel is her opponent in a race that the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter rates as "solid Democrat." The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3.
Omar has faced criticism from President Donald Trump and heckled him during his State of the Union address to Congress on Feb. 24. That address followed aggressive immigration enforcement actions in Minneapolis by federal authorities.
The Department of Justice maintains a policy regarding federal investigations and prosecutions close to elections. The policy discourages beginning investigations, taking investigative steps, bringing charges, or making public statements for the purpose of affecting an election or giving a candidate an advantage or disadvantage. A person familiar with the raid told CNBC that the department does not consider the action a violation of that policy because it was not meant to be public. CNBC has requested comment from Omar's office.