Federal law‑enforcement agents obtained a search warrant to raid the Minneapolis home of Rep. Ilhan Omar, the Democratic congresswoman from Minnesota’s 5th district, after gathering digital and biological evidence earlier this year. According to three sources familiar with the investigation, investigators seized the phone of Omar’s sister, Sahra Noor, and recovered discarded DNA from a trash can outside Omar’s residence. The evidence was used to support a warrant that allowed agents to enter the home and conduct a search.
Evidence Collection and Legal Basis
The New York Times first reported that investigators retrieved a family text message from Noor’s phone, which they say helped establish probable cause for the warrant. In addition, agents collected DNA that had been discarded in the trash, a practice that does not require a separate court order because abandoned property is not protected by the Fourth Amendment. Former FBI special agent Tracy Walder explained, “If they are obviously trying to obtain DNA, then, yes, that is a very easy get, especially if it was discarded even in a trash can.”
Allegations Under Investigation
The inquiry focuses on claims made by conservative critics that Omar misrepresented family relationships on immigration filings decades ago. Critics allege that she may have married her brother to circumvent U.S. immigration rules, a charge Omar has repeatedly denied, calling the accusations “baseless smears rooted in Islamophobia and anti‑immigrant sentiment.”
Political Context and Reactions
When asked about the phone seizure, Omar’s office declined to comment directly on the device, instead framing the investigation as part of a broader political campaign against her. Spokesperson Jackie Rogers said, “Trump has spread lie after lie about the congresswoman in a desperate attempt to justify his extraordinary abuse of power. This is politically motivated and an escalation of Trump’s personal vendetta against her, lasting over a decade.” The statement identifies former President Donald Trump as the source of the alleged attacks, noting his long‑standing criticism of the congresswoman.
Impact on Omar’s Family
The investigation has already affected Omar’s relatives. Sahra Noor, who was scheduled to appear in Rochester to promote her memoir “Salt in the Snow: A Somali Immigrant Story,” cancelled the event citing a family emergency. Omar and her family arrived in the United States in the 1990s as refugees from the Somali civil war and later settled in Minneapolis.
Background on the Family’s History
Questions about the family resurfaced after reports that Omar’s late father, Nur Omar Mohamed, served as a high‑ranking colonel under Somali dictator Siad Barre and may have used a different identity during the resettlement process. Those historical details have been cited by critics as part of a broader narrative questioning Omar’s immigration background.
Current Status of the Investigation
Federal agencies have not publicly confirmed the search, disclosed any charges, or provided a timeline for further action. The investigation remains ongoing, and no official statements have been released by the Department of Justice or the FBI regarding the outcome of the search.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
