Ilhan Omar’s lawyers challenge legality of Washington home search, demand return of seized property and recordings in reported citizenship investigation

The legal team for U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar is challenging the legality of a search of her Washington home and demanding the return of all property seized and recordings made during the operation, The Wall Street Journal reported. The search, described as an FBI search, was carried out early Monday by Homeland Security Investigations agents under a warrant approved by a federal judge. It is reportedly part of an investigation into how Omar, a 44-year-old Minnesota Democrat, obtained U.S. citizenship after arriving from Somalia decades ago. Her lawyers called the search unjustified, unlawful and politically motivated.

Omar’s team said the search took place three weeks before November’s midterm elections, in which she is seeking a fifth term in Congress. The lawyers accused the Justice Department of violating its longstanding policy against taking public investigative actions involving political candidates within 60 days of an election. A department spokeswoman rejected the allegation, saying its attorneys and law enforcement partners fully complied with court orders and legal obligations.

Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for Washington, defended the operation earlier in the week, saying a federal judge would not have approved the warrant without probable cause.

Omar, described in the post as a prominent progressive, has long been a target of criticism and investigations by former President Donald Trump, conservatives and congressional Republicans.