Federal authorities investigating Rep. Ilhan Omar have seized the Minnesota Democrat’s phone and issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, according to a person briefed on the probe who spoke to the Associated Press.

The subpoenas were issued for a grand jury in Minnesota collecting evidence as federal authorities probe potential fraud in Omar’s immigration paperwork, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation.

The escalation comes after federal agents searched Omar’s Washington, D.C. home on Monday, just weeks before the November midterm elections in which Omar is seeking reelection to the House.

Ilhan Omar criminal investigation: what the probe covers

The scope of the investigation remains unclear. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has suggested that authorities were examining potential crimes related to Omar’s family’s immigration paperwork.

On Tuesday, Washington, D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a Fox News interview that “there are several investigations going on” related to Omar and that her office is also probing issues concerning the lawmaker’s financial disclosures.

“If there was a crime that was committed, it will be prosecuted,” Pirro said.

According to Particle News, a D.C. magistrate limited how Justice Department attorneys may review the seized materials to protect Speech or Debate Clause privileges for a sitting member of Congress before approving the search warrant.

No criminal charges have been announced, and the probe remains investigatory.

Omar calls search political intimidation

Omar, in a statement on X, called the search of her home “an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement.”

“For 10 years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation,” she said. “I will not be silenced.”

The search of Omar’s home so close to next month’s midterm contests — which will determine control of the House and the Senate — was swiftly condemned by Democrats, who accused the administration of targeting the Democrat for political purposes.

A phone message seeking comment was left Wednesday with a representative for Omar, the AP reported.

Grand jury subpoenas in Minnesota

The grand jury collecting evidence is seated in Minnesota, Omar’s home state. About a dozen subpoenas have gone to relatives and witnesses as part of what officials describe as a long-running criminal inquiry into possible false statements on immigration forms, according to Particle News.

The timing has drawn particular scrutiny. The search took place three weeks before the November midterms, and the Justice Department has historically sought to avoid public investigative actions involving a candidate within 60 days of a primary or general election, the AP noted.

Omar, who was first elected to the House in 2018, represents Minnesota’s 5th District, including Minneapolis. She is part of the progressive group of lawmakers known as “The Squad,” and was one of the first two Muslim-American women in the House and the first African refugee elected to Congress, according to the AP.

The investigation dates back years in its public framing: Republican scrutiny of Omar’s background, including her family’s immigration history, has been a recurring theme since she first took office in 2019. What is new is the use of search warrants and grand jury process against a sitting member of Congress weeks before an election — a step that has drawn criticism over Justice Department norms regarding politically sensitive investigations near elections.

What happens next in the Ilhan Omar probe

For now, the probe is in an evidence-gathering phase. Investigators continue reviewing the seized devices and documents, while the separate review of Omar’s financial disclosures proceeds under the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office.

Any denaturalization process — a scenario raised by some commentators — would require separate, lengthy court proceedings and has not been initiated, according to legal analysts. The immediate political question is whether the investigation produces charges before or after the November midterms, in which Omar is seeking another term representing Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.

For more on the midterm landscape, see our 2026 midterms polling tracker.

FAQ: Ilhan Omar criminal investigation

Why is Ilhan Omar under criminal investigation?

Federal authorities are probing potential fraud in Omar’s immigration paperwork, according to a person briefed on the probe who spoke to the AP. The exact scope is unclear, and D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro has also said her office is reviewing Omar’s financial disclosures.

Did federal agents search Ilhan Omar’s home?

Yes. Federal agents searched Omar’s Washington, D.C. home on Monday, Oct. 12, seizing her phone and other electronic devices and documents, according to the AP.

Has Ilhan Omar been charged with a crime?

No. No criminal charges have been announced. The investigation remains in an evidence-gathering phase, with a Minnesota grand jury collecting evidence.

What has Ilhan Omar said about the investigation?

Omar called the search “an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement” and described it as political intimidation, vowing: “I will not be silenced.”