Federal agents on Monday searched the home of Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar as part of a criminal investigation, a startling escalation that brings renewed scrutiny to the frequent target of Trump administration derision in the final weeks of her re-election bid.
Omar said she will “not be silenced” and called the search of her home the “latest escalation” in US President Donald Trump’s ‘‘intimidation” campaign.
The search of the Minnesota congresswoman’s home so close to next month’s midterm contests that will determine control of the House and the Senate was swiftly condemned by top Democrats in Congress and raised questions about the timing given long-standing Justice Department protocol to avoid overt investigative steps involving political candidates in the direct run-up to an election.
The Justice Department confirmed in a statement that Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a judicially authorised search warrant in the Washington area in connection with an ongoing federal criminal investigation but provided no other details.