DOJ asks judge to keep Ilhan Omar home search records sealed, says no charging decision yet

Mixed · 2The Justice Department filed a heavily redacted memorandum on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, asking Judge James Boasberg to keep records tied to the search of Rep. Ilhan Omar's Washington home under seal. 1 2 Centre · 1Homeland Security Investigations agents searched the Minnesota Democrat's home at about 6:05 a.m. on 12 October. 2 Left · 1The filing acknowledged the request came "before a charging decision has been reached and publicly announced," and said the government has "still only partially executed the search warrant." 1

Centre · 1According to Newsweek, the warrant extends to "other individuals," and prosecutors said they expect it to be "fully executed in short order." 2 Left · 1The request for access came from a coalition of news organizations and the conservative group Judicial Watch, who want the warrant, supporting affidavit and related records. 1 Left · 1Prosecutors argued that even redacted releases could harm what they called a "complex investigation," writing that "even the smallest of facts, exposed to a highly motivated press and millions of prying eyes, could expose crucial facets" of it, and that the request "sounds rash because it is rash." 1

Centre · 1They also said the affidavit is "chock full of privacy interests." 2 Mixed · 2The government asked Boasberg to deny the requests for now and order status reports on the search. If he orders the records unsealed, it asked for advance notice so it could seek an emergency stay and possibly appeal to the D.C. Circuit. 1 2 Mixed · 2On the timing of the search, which came weeks before the midterm elections, the filing says the prosecution team consulted the Public Integrity Section and that Attorney General Todd Blanche approved the warrant. It says Blanche confirmed the timing was not meant to affect any election or to advantage or disadvantage any candidate or party. 1 2

Mixed · 2Omar has called the search an "attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement," and her attorney has called the investigation "politically motivated." 1 2 Centre · 1Newsweek notes that Omar has long faced unproven allegations that her former husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, is her brother and that their marriage was meant to obtain immigration benefits; she has repeatedly denied them. 2