Justice Department calls the letter from Omar's lawyers "riddled with false allegations"
United States Department of JusticeJustice Department, through spokesperson Emily Covington
A Justice Department spokesperson said the letter from Omar's lawyers was riddled with false allegations and inaccuracies, and that the department's attorneys and law enforcement partners complied with all court orders and legal obligations.
“riddled with false allegations and inaccuracies ... Our attorneys and law enforcement partners complied with all court orders and legal obligations, as they always do”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Federal agents search Ilhan Omar's home weeks before the election; Democrats allege political targeting
Homeland Security Investigations agents searched Rep. Ilhan Omar's Washington home on October 12, 2026, under a warrant the Justice Department says a judge authorized. Omar and House Democratic leaders call the search political intimidation timed before the midterm election. Trump says the matter is up to the Justice Department.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
Associated Press report on the October 16 letter from Omar's attorneys, which the AP obtained. It quotes the letter and the Justice Department spokesperson's response.
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Omar's attorneys had written to the prosecutors handling the investigation, demanding the return of seized property and saying the search did not follow the judge's procedures and was "neither justified nor lawful."
After the quotation
According to the Associated Press, spokesperson Emily Covington sent the second sentence in a text message on the evening of October 16.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is whether the federal search of Omar's home was politically motivated, as Omar and Democratic leaders allege. The department rejects the letter as "riddled with false allegations and inaccuracies" and says its attorneys and agents "complied with all court orders and legal obligations," defending the conduct of the search, so we labeled it Defended or excused. The closest competing label is Challenged characterization, since it disputes the letter's account; it loses because it affirmatively asserts that the search was carried out lawfully.
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- Ilhan Omar
More from this case
Read the full caseOmar's lawyers call the investigation "vindictive, retributive, and politically motivated"
“This vindictive, retributive, and politically motivated criminal investigation into one of the President’s chief congressional critics violates Representative Omar’s constitutional rights and threatens the separation of powers”Read statement
Democracy Defenders Fund asks for a Hatch Act investigation of the search of Omar's home
Democracy Defenders Fund
“This unprecedented raid occurred a mere four days before general early voting begins in Minnesota and appears to be timed to influence voters in the upcoming midterm election, in violation of 5 U.S.C. § 7323(a)(1).”Read statement
Trump says the search of Omar's home is "really up to the DOJ"
“that’s really up to the DOJ ... I understand they are looking at her very carefully ... I’ve always found her to be totally crooked personally, but that has nothing to do with me.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Justice Department calls the letter from Omar's lawyers "riddled with false allegations"". First published: 2026-10-17. Last updated: 2026-10-17. https://disputeindex.com/events/5992-a-justice-department-spokesperson-said-the-letter-from