Texts from Omar’s sister’s phone helped win warrant for raid on her home, report says

Federal investigators reportedly used family text messages recovered from the phone of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s sister to obtain a warrant for this month’s raid on the Minnesota Democrat’s Washington, D.C., home, the New York Post reports.

Three people familiar with the investigation told the paper that messages on the phone of Sahra Noor, which investigators seized earlier this year, helped persuade a federal judge to authorize the search. Agents searched Omar’s residence on October 12 and took electronic devices, documents and other belongings.

Investigators are examining whether Omar and relatives misrepresented information during their immigration and naturalization processes, including records submitted by her late father, according to the report. Omar, who was born in Somalia, arrived in the United States as a refugee in 1995 and became a citizen in 2000.

A federal grand jury in Minnesota is reviewing the case, and subpoenas have reportedly gone to family members. Noor, who lives in Kenya, reportedly cancelled a scheduled book promotion event in Minnesota, citing a family emergency.

Omar has denied wrongdoing and accused President Donald Trump’s administration of politically motivated intimidation. Her lawyers have challenged the legality of the search, alleging investigators violated court-ordered safeguards and improperly seized protected materials. The Justice Department maintains the operation followed lawful procedures.

Omar and her family entered the United States as refugees following Somalia’s civil war. However, her father, Nur Omar Mohamed, was reportedly a senior colonel under Somalia’s former dictator, whose regime was accused of killing an estimated 200,000 people before being overthrown. Sources previously told the New York Post that Mohamed allegedly misrepresented his identity when seeking refugee status in the United States. These allegations have not been independently established.

The allegations remain under investigation, and the reported text messages have not publicly established criminal wrongdoing by Omar.

The raid comes weeks before November’s midterm elections, raising questions about political interference and constitutional protections.