Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar says she will move out of her Washington, DC residence after a pre‑dawn search by Homeland Security Investigations agents, according to the BBC. Officials have not specified any alleged crime and described the search as “part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation,” the outlet reported.
What Omar says happened
Omar told MS Now that agents began knocking around 6:00 a.m. on 12 October and that she and her husband were startled awake. She called the search “so bizarre,” estimating 15–25 agents surrounded the home. She said agents presented a warrant and spent about five hours inside, leaving with 17 items, including multiple cell phones, notebooks, and her husband’s 1960s camera.
Omar said the raid has made the home untenable for her family: “With the death threats that I deal with, it’s no longer going to be feasible to be in that house and have my kids,” she told MS Now.
What investigators have said so far
The government has not detailed what it is investigating. The BBC reported that more than a dozen subpoenas have been issued to Omar’s family members as part of the probe, and said it was reported that her personal computers and passport were among the items seized. The BBC said it asked the Justice Department for comment after being referred by the Department of Homeland Security.
Political reactions noted by the BBC
Omar publicly criticized the search, calling it “an outrageous abuse of power” and “weaponisation of federal law enforcement to target political enemies.” The BBC said former President Barack Obama called the probe “so appalling” in a statement. The outlet also reported that former President Donald Trump denied any role—saying it had “nothing to do with me”—and, at an Ohio rally, said of Omar: “She’s a disaster.” The BBC noted Omar rejected Trump’s denial and linked the moment to his past comments; the outlet has previously reported he repeatedly suggested she “go back” to Somalia.
What remains unclear
Per the BBC’s reporting, officials have not disclosed the suspected offense underlying the search, and several details—including the exact number of agents and the full list of seized items—rely on Omar’s account.
