The United States Department of Justice has opposed a request to make public a search warrant executed at the Washington, DC, residence of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota earlier this month.
Homeland Security Investigations agents reportedly removed boxes of evidence from Omar’s home on October 12 as part of a federal investigation into possible fraud involving her family’s immigration documents.
The New York Times, conservative advocacy group Judicial Watch and 13 other media organisations have asked Judge James Boasberg to release the search warrant and related court records.
However, Jeanine Pirro, the US Attorney for the District of Columbia, urged the court to reject the request in a filing on Tuesday, arguing that releasing the documents could compromise an ongoing investigation.
“The press is trying to unseal materials about a search warrant … within an active criminal investigation all before a charging decision has been reached and publicly announced. … Unsealing everything now imperils the investigation,” Pirro stated.
She argued that the media organisations had not cited “a single case in which a court unsealed a warrant-related document while the execution was still ongoing and during an investigation.”
Pirro, however, indicated that her office might be open to releasing some of the records at a later date.
She said her office “will not necessarily oppose unsealing at least some of the search warrant records,” but maintained that the court should deny the current request.
The prosecutor has previously disclosed that “there are several investigations going on” concerning Omar, including matters involving her financial disclosures.
A source familiar with the investigation said federal agents seized Omar’s mobile phone, laptop, notebooks and passport during the search. Some of her relatives have also reportedly received subpoenas, including her sister.
Meanwhile, US border czar Tom Homan told Fox News that he had been informed investigators had a “strong case” against the congresswoman.
Homan also suggested that Omar could face deportation to Somalia if she were found guilty of wrongdoing.
Omar has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Born in Somalia, Omar fled the country with her family during the civil war before they eventually settled in Minnesota in 1997, when she was 14. She has said she became a naturalised US citizen before reaching the age of 18.
In an interview last week with MS NOW, the congresswoman expressed confidence that the investigation would not establish any wrongdoing on her part.
“I’m confident in my truth. I’m confident in the fact that I didn’t do anything wrong. … Everybody can see this for what it is. And, you know, I do feel confident that when it’s all said and done, that I’m going to be just fine,” she said.
Omar and US President Donald Trump have exchanged criticism for several years over public policy, personal character, and their respective backgrounds.
Last week, Trump accused the congresswoman of using an alias as her official name, arguing that this disqualified her from serving in Congress and demanding that she resign immediately.
Omar has categorically rejected the allegation.
