Federal law enforcement officers have searched the Washington DC home of US congresswoman Ilhan Omar. The search was carried out on Monday morning as part of a federal criminal investigation, the country’s Justice Department said.
In a post on social media after the search, Ilhan Omar said President Donald Trump’s administration is targeting political opponents and trying to use law enforcement agencies for political ends. She also said she “will not be silenced”.
A video published by the US news outlet Fox News showed officers of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) outside Omar’s home. A Justice Department spokesperson said the operation was carried out in the Washington DC area on Monday on the basis of an authorised search warrant obtained by the department. It is part of a continuing federal criminal investigation.
The Justice Department has not made clear on what allegation the search warrant was obtained. The Fox News report, citing two unnamed sources connected with the investigation, said the search was part of an inquiry into alleged fraud involving Omar’s immigration papers. Her late father had filled in those papers when she was a child, the report said.
Asked by journalists about the search on Monday, Trump said he had no involvement in it and that the investigation is a matter for the Justice Department. Of Omar he said: “I think she is being watched very carefully.” He also called her “dishonest”.
Omar said Trump has targeted her for years with baseless false accusations and propaganda. “This is the latest step in his campaign of political intimidation. I will not be silenced,” she said.
Several Trump administration officials have spoken in recent months about an investigation into Omar. Attacking her at a rally on Saturday, Trump said Vice President JD Vance and officials of his administration were taking the matter seriously.
In March Vance told a right-wing media personality that they believed Omar had committed immigration fraud. He also said he had spoken to Trump’s adviser Stephen Miller about remedial steps. Last month Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said an investigation was under way and that something would happen on the matter.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report