President Donald Trump said Oct. 20 that Rep. Ilhan Omar could go to jail amid a federal criminal investigation, adding to a dispute over the search of her home before the Nov. 3 election.
Asked in the Oval Office about the possibility of Omar’s deportation, Trump said, “She could also go to jail.” He described that view as “just my opinion.”
Federal agents searched Omar’s Washington, D.C., home on Oct. 12 under a warrant approved by a judge. The Justice Department said the search was part of an ongoing criminal investigation but has not publicly described its scope. The Associated Press reported, citing a person briefed on the case, that investigators were examining possible fraud in Omar’s immigration paperwork.
Omar’s office said she had done nothing wrong and accused the administration of using federal power against a political opponent. Her lawyers sought the return of property taken during the search and challenged how agents carried it out. The Justice Department said its personnel followed the judge’s instructions and applicable legal requirements.
The Associated Press noted the Justice Department’s historical practice of avoiding public investigative steps involving candidates close to an election. Omar is seeking reelection in the Nov. 3 general election.
