Rep. Ilhan Omar has appealed for donations and accused the Trump administration of political intimidation following a federal search of her Washington home, while saying threats have made it unsafe for her to continue living there.
The Minnesota Democrat's fundraising video circulated within days of the October 12 search. Although she criticized President Donald Trump and his administration in the clip, she did not mention the operation or describe the donations as money for legal expenses, CBS Minnesota reported.
Omar thanked supporters for contributions of $5, $10 and $20 and urged them to keep giving ahead of what she called "a very expensive and challenging time." The appeal came as she continued campaigning before the midterm elections.
In a separate interview Wednesday with MS NOW's Chris Hayes, Omar said the publicity surrounding her address, combined with death threats, meant she would have to leave her Washington apartment.
"Obviously, I can't continue to live there," she said. She cited concerns about her children visiting and people tracking their movements. Omar also maintains a residence in Minnesota.
The Justice Department said Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a judicially authorized search warrant as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. Sources familiar with the inquiry said it concerns immigration paperwork completed by Omar's late father when she was a child.
The administration has alleged that her father misrepresented her age before she obtained U.S. citizenship in 2000. Omar denies wrongdoing, and the search does not establish that the allegations are true.
Omar told Hayes she learned at 6 a.m. on October 12 that agents had surrounded her home. She said they presented a warrant, searched room by room and seized 17 items, including her phone and other electronic devices.
Her criticism of the investigation preceded the fundraising video. In a social-media post after the search, she accused the administration of conducting a "campaign of political intimidation" and declared, "I will not be silenced."
Reports also said she began fundraising on the day of the search. The later video asked supporters to continue contributing but did not announce a separate legal fund or explain how the money would be used.
Trump has said he had nothing to do with the search. Speaking to reporters Wednesday, however, he renewed his personal attacks on Omar, calling her a "sick, very dishonest person" who hates the country.
"I hope they treat her fairly, but she's a very dishonest person," Trump added.
The Washington Post reported last week that officials during Trump's first administration reviewed Omar's immigration records in 2019 without finding evidence of fraud.
Omar said Democratic colleagues had offered substantial support. Former President Barack Obama also condemned the administration's investigation as "appalling," a response she linked to his experience with conspiracy theories about his own background.
During the MS NOW interview, Omar said she remained confident she had done nothing wrong.
"I am a person of enormous faith," she said. "And I know that ... if I continue to live my truth, if I continue to fight for the right things, if I continue to stand up to bullies and people who are carrying out ungodly corruption, I'm going to be OK."
