Congresswoman insists she will not be 'silenced' after federal agents raid her home

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar said she will "not be silenced" after her home was raided by federal agents, calling it the "latest escalation" in President Donald Trump's "intimidation" campaign.

Agents on Monday searched the Washington home of the Democrat representative of Minnesota in an escalation of a criminal investigation that brings renewed scrutiny to the frequent target of the Trump administration three weeks before the US midterm elections.

The search of MS Omar'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.

They raised questions about the timing given longstanding Justice Department protocol to avoid overt investigative steps involving political candidates in the direct run-up to an election - with the midterms due to take place on 3 November.

In a post on X, congresswoman Omar said: "Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement.

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

The investigation involves whistleblowers, documents and witness testimony - and deals partly with immigration and fraud - Sky News' US partner NBC News reports.

It is part of a years-long criminal investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the US attorney in Minneapolis and the Department of Justice (DoJ).

A DoJ spokesperson said: "Today in ​the Washington, DC area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorised search warrant secured by the Department of Justice. This enforcement action is part of an ​ongoing federal investigation."

HSI is part of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ⁠ICE.

Minnesota Democrats condemned the raid, with the state's governor Tim Walz accusing president Donald Trump of "abusing his power to go after political opponents weeks before an election".

Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, minority whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Democratic caucus chair Pete Aguilar of California vowed in a joint statement to "deliver full accountability for the rogue abuse of power from the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice".

Mr Trump has previously described the Somali American community as a threat to Minnesota and insulted congresswoman Omar.

In February, he said that Omar and Democratic Representative Rashida Tlaib of Michigan, both of whom are Muslim, should be "institutionalized" and sent back to "where they came from".

The congresswoman has called the president's focus on her an "unhealthy and creepy obsession", and he has been criticised by various civil rights advocates for his rhetoric.

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During Mr Trump's second term, the DoJ has investigated and charged a range of his perceived political enemies - including FBI Director James Comey, New York state Attorney General Letitia James and Trump's former national security adviser John Bolton.

The case against Ms James and one of two brought against Mr Comey were thrown out by a federal judge, while Bolton pleaded guilty to mishandling classified security information and is due to be sentenced later this month.

(c) Sky News 2026: Congresswoman insists she will not be 'silenced' after federal agents raid her home