Multiple Search Warrants Executed as DHS Secretary Mullin Calls Ilhan Omar Probe a Strong Case
Warrants and investigation details
Mullin discussed the investigation during a podcast appearance Friday. He said a judge had approved the warrants and that officials expected to bring the case before a grand jury.
The inquiry concerns possible fraud involving immigration documents submitted by Omar’s family decades ago. The documents date to her childhood and involve paperwork completed by her late father, CBS News reported.
Possible broader legal theory
Multiple relatives of Omar received grand jury subpoenas, and sources told CBS News that the lawmaker’s cellphone was taken by DHS. Mullin said Homeland Security Investigations agents had worked closely with the Justice Department.
In response to a hypothetical about fraudulent paperwork and other people entering the country under a related scheme, Mullin raised the possibility of a RICO case. He did not establish that the hypothetical applied to Omar’s family or say prosecutors were pursuing such charges against her.
Omar denies wrongdoing
Omar has not been charged with a crime and has described the investigation as politically motivated. On X, she accused the administration of targeting political opponents and using federal law enforcement against them.
Federal criminal RICO cases generally face a five-year statute of limitations. In some circumstances, prosecutors may include older acts in a timely case involving an ongoing criminal enterprise or conspiracy.
Key points
- Mullin said agents executed multiple warrants on the day Omar’s Washington home was searched.
- The investigation concerns possible fraud involving immigration documents from Omar’s childhood.
- Omar has not been charged and says the investigation is politically motivated.
- Mullin raised a possible RICO theory but did not say Omar faced RICO charges.