Ilhan Omar votes early as federal probe into her immigration papers intensifies

Rep. Ilhan Omar cast her ballot early in Minneapolis ahead of the Nov. 3 midterms, as a federal investigation into her decades-old immigration paperwork draws scrutiny and President Donald Trump renews his attacks.

Rep. Ilhan Omar cast her ballot early at the Hennepin County Election Center in Minneapolis ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections, in which the Minnesota Democrat is seeking another term in the state's 5th Congressional District.

The vote comes as a federal criminal investigation into Omar's immigration history intensifies. The probe reportedly centers on whether she or her late father provided false information on decades-old immigration paperwork used to secure legal status and, eventually, U.S. citizenship.

Home searched, relatives subpoenaed

Downtown Minneapolis

Homeland Security Investigations agents searched Omar's Washington-area home on Oct. 12 under a judicially authorized warrant and seized her phone, according to the Justice Department. Investigators have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, and The Wall Street Journal reported the probe aims to build a case to revoke her citizenship.

President Donald Trump revived his attacks on Thursday, alleging that Omar uses a false name, a claim she has categorically denied. Omar has called the allegations "baseless lies and smear campaigns." She has not been charged.

Several legal experts have noted that it is highly unusual for federal agents to take public investigative steps against a sitting member of Congress weeks before an election. The Cook Political Report rates Omar's seat as solidly Democratic.