Ilhan Omar's Lawyers Demand Return of Seized Property

Attorneys for Rep. Ilhan Omar on Friday formally requested the Justice Department return property seized from her Washington, D.C., home earlier this week, asserting the search was "neither justified nor lawful." The lawyers described the investigation, which they claim stems from an immigration fraud inquiry, as a "vindictive, retributive, and politically motivated criminal investigation" targeting a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump.

In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, Omar's legal team argued that the search, conducted weeks before the midterm elections in which the Minnesota Democrat is listed on the ballot, violates her constitutional rights and "threatens the separation of powers." They stated there is "no legitimate basis for any suggestion that she has violated any law concerning her citizenship status."

The Justice Department, however, called the letter "riddled with false allegations and inaccuracies." Spokesperson Emily Covington stated, "Our attorneys and law enforcement partners complied with all court orders and legal obligations, as they always do."

Federal agents seized Omar's phone during the search and have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, according to a person briefed on the probe. The full scope of the investigation remains unclear, though Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has indicated it involves potential examination of her family's immigration paperwork. Separately, Washington's U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has stated that "several investigations" related to Omar are underway, including a probe into her financial disclosures.

Omar's attorneys also raised concerns about whether the Justice Department adhered to longstanding agency policy aimed at avoiding actions that could influence elections. They questioned if the department followed all specific instructions from the magistrate judge who authorized the search.

Beyond the return of her property, Omar's lawyers are demanding that the Justice Department preserve any audio and video recordings made during the search. The letter also asks for the return of the lawmaker's phone.

Omar has consistently denied allegations regarding her marriage and immigration status, which have been raised by conservative critics. According to her House biography, Omar and her family fled Somalia's civil war when she was eight, spending four years in a Kenyan refugee camp before immigrating to the United States in the 1990s. She became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1997. Her lawyers have stated she became a lawfully naturalized U.S. citizen in 2000. Conservative outlets have previously alleged that Omar married a brother to commit immigration fraud, claims she has broadly refuted as "disgusting lies" and "absurd and offensive."