Omar Lawyers Call Home Search Unlawful, Demand Return of Property

Lawyers for U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar have asked the Department of Justice to return property federal agents removed from her home during a search earlier this week. In a letter sent Friday, they called the seizure "neither justified nor lawful" and sought the immediate return of the items. The Guardian

The property taken from the home included notebooks, computers and her passport. The Wall Street Journal The lawyers demanded that the department preserve any audio and video recorded during the Monday search of the home.

Omar's legal team wrote there is "no legitimate basis" for any suggestion she violated any law concerning her citizenship status. Omar has denied allegations of immigration fraud. Her lawyers accused the Justice Department of violating its longstanding policy aimed at avoiding potentially influencing an election.

Justice Department spokesperson Emily Covington said the defense team's letter was "riddled with false allegations and inaccuracies."

The federal government has issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, orders to provide testimony or documents for a criminal inquiry, including subpoenas directed at Omar's relatives. Agents seized her phone as part of the investigation of Omar.

President Donald Trump said he had "nothing to do" with the federal agents' search of Omar's Washington home. Omar said she will not "be silenced" by the search. AP