A progressive watchdog filed a formal Hatch Act complaint with the U.S. Office of Special Counsel one day after federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) this week.
The predawn search of her property came four days before early voting for Minnesota starts this election cycle. The Democracy Defenders Fund, which filed the complaint on Tuesday, found the timing of the raid troubling.
The left-of-center group called on special counsel Charles Baldis to investigate whether Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow, Attorney General Todd Blanche, or any employee of the Department of Justice or the Department of Homeland Security violated the Hatch Act by authorizing a raid on Omar’s home ahead of the midterm elections.
The 1939 federal law prohibits government officials from using their authority to influence the outcome of an election. This policy is further reinforced by the DOJ’s long-standing “rule of forbearance,” which requires federal prosecutors and officers to refrain from investigating candidates shortly before an election.
The administration is investigating the Somali-born congresswoman, reportedly based on accusations that her late father lied or omitted information on immigration paperwork when Omar was a child. Her family arrived in the United States in 1995 to flee a civil war in their native country. Omar later became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
“DOJ and DHS’s decision to instigate this raid at this very moment and for these alleged reasons is unexplainable—except for as a politically motivated use of power to influence the Minnesota congressional election in violation of the Hatch Act,” Norm Eisen, executive chairman and co-founder of the Democracy Defenders Fund, wrote in a letter alongside three other signatories. “A review of this matter is therefore immediately necessary.”
With less than three weeks to go before the general election, Minnesota’s early in-person voting period starts on Friday. The state already started early voting via absentee ballots.
“The timing of this outrageous action against a long-time target of Trump’s evinces illegal political intent,” Eisen said in a statement. “Staging a public raid on the home of a sitting member of Congress weeks before a consequential election is an abuse of power. Trump’s DOJ has offered no explanation for executing this warrant right in the middle of the election season. Based on what we do know, this appears to be a case of Trump’s DOJ, yet again, being abused for intimidation purposes.”
President Donald Trump, who has frequently criticized Omar, said he has “nothing to do with” the investigation into her. The House Democrat claimed she was being targeted for political purposes.
“I’m ok. Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement,” Omar wrote on X. “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.”
REP. ILHAN OMAR SOLICITS DONATIONS AFTER RAID ON DC HOME: ‘HELP ME FIGHT BACK’
Omar is running for reelection in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, which she has represented since 2019. The incumbent is set to face Republican candidate John Nagel next month.
Omar will likely hold onto her seat following the general election, given the Cook Political Report considers the House race safely Democratic.