Omar's lawyers challenge federal search of her home as unlawful

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 16:57 · Archive

Ilhan Omar's attorneys have demanded the Department of Justice return property seized during a federal raid of her Washington home.

Federal agents searched Representative Ilhan Omar's Washington, DC home on Monday as part of an investigation into alleged immigration fraud. They seized her phone and passport, and have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives.

Omar's lawyers, Amy Jeffress and Joshua Matz, have demanded the Department of Justice return the seized property and preserve audio and video recordings from the search. In a letter to federal prosecutors, they challenged the investigation into her immigration history, saying there was 'no legitimate basis for any suggestion that she has violated any law concerning her citizenship status'.

The lawyers claim investigators did not provide a copy of the warrant in advance, nor did they contact the House of Representatives' Office of General Counsel as the magistrate judge's orders required. They argue the procedures outlined by the judge are intended to protect Omar's constitutional rights as a sitting member of Congress and safeguard against seizure of materials related to her legislative work. They also accuse federal agents of violating the Department of Justice's policy designed to avoid potentially influencing an election.

A Department of Justice spokesperson said the letter was 'riddled with false allegations and inaccuracies' and that 'our attorneys and law enforcement partners complied with all court orders and legal obligations'.

How it is being reported

• Attorneys for Rep. Ilhan Omar accuse DOJ of violating judge's ordersOmar's attorneys asked the government to immediately return the congresswoman's property, and also demanded all video and audio recordings of the search be preserved.CBS News · 17 Oct, 19:23
• Ilhan Omar’s lawyers demand the return of property seized in house raidOmar’s legal team says the search violated safeguards designed to protect constitutional rights of members of Congress.Al Jazeera · 17 Oct, 16:20
• Ilhan Omar’s attorneys say federal search of her home was ‘neither justified nor lawful’Minnesota lawmaker’s attorneys asked for return of seized items and the preservation of any recordings of search Ilhan Omar ’s attorneys have asked the US Department of Justice to return property that federal agents removed days earlier from her home during a search. The lawyers for the Minnesota Democrat contended that the seizure as “neither justified nor lawful”, according to a letter that the Associated Press reported on Friday. Continue reading...Guardian World · 17 Oct, 15:21

In this story: Ilhan Omar · United States Department of Justice · Minnesota · Washington, DC · House of Representatives

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