Page T29From§Eachthe afternoon edition — 20 October 2026
NO CHARGES YET
As it ran on the front
My nephew Daniel is in his second year of law school, and when he talks about criminal procedure I listen the way you listen to a weather man who has actually been right before. Last week I asked him, purely in the generic sense, what has to happen between "under investigation" and "guilty." He said: an indictment. A charging document. Something with a docket number that a judge signs off on. I asked what happens if none of that exists yet. He said then there isn't a guilty — there's just somebody with an opinion and a microphone.
Here's what that looks like where I live. I missed the toll on the parkway back in August — the automatic kind, no gate, just a camera overhead. Three weeks later an envelope came to the house: a photograph of my bumper, my plate circled in red, and a bill already inside. Not a hearing date. Not a chance to say the camera read an eight as a six. A bill. There was a camera, and then there was a number, and nothing happened in between.…
…(cont) I mention this because of the paperwork on Rep. Ilhan Omar.
On 13 September, Fox News carried the border czar, Tom Homan, confirming an "ongoing criminal investigation" into Omar, and saying he knew "things" he wouldn't describe. Five days later, the same outlet carried Omar saying the Department of Homeland Security hadn't contacted her about anything. Neither of those is a charging document; my nephew would call that the first page of a file with nothing filed in it yet.
On 12 October, agents from DHS searched Omar's home in Washington. On 14 October, Fox News reported they left with her cellphone, under what it called a "criminal fraud investigation" into her immigration paperwork — paperwork her late father filled out when she was a child. Still no charging document. An accusation. Also not a charging document.
Then this week. On Monday, Isra Hirsi was seen entering her mother's D.C. home after dark, and Capitol Police were called to the residence later that night, while rumors moved around about where Rep. Omar actually was. On Tuesday, the president told reporters Omar could go to jail in addition to being deported, and called her "a disgrace to our country." The same day, of Omar and Governor Walz, he said: "The governor is 100% guilty. He's 100% guilty. He's a fraud. He's a thief. He's a crook, and he's getting away by just getting out of office." He added: "They all knew."
If I read my nephew that last paragraph, he'd only have the one question, and it's the only one I've got for you: in all of that, where's the judge?
Indictment. It isn't in the reporting on the border czar's comments, the raid, the phone, the office's statement, or the president's. Not once.
Oh — before you go, one more thing. That camera on the parkway at least took a picture before the bill came. Where's the picture here? Who looked at it, and when?
“They spent five weeks not telling you what the crime was, then skipped straight to the sentencing without ever naming the charge — that's not law enforcement, that's a verdict with a press conference. They searched a sitting member of Congress's house, took her phone, and the president went on camera calling her and the governor guilty before a single document said why. If they can skip the indictment for people with Secret Service protection, what happens to the rest of us when we're the ones they decide are guilty first and charge later, if ever.”
“Look, the President speaks in absolutes, everybody knows that, it's not a legal finding — okay, it sounds like a legal finding, but it's rhetorical, and the investigation itself is real, Homan said so back in September, you don't raid a congresswoman's house over nothing. Does it matter there's still no indictment five weeks later? No, because — wait, why doesn't that matter? Did I just say that out loud? That's not what I meant.”
Earlier in this story
The receipts
The DOJ disbanded its crypto enforcement team and ordered inconsistent investigations closed while the president's family runs a crypto business CNBC, 8 April 2025 (Blanche memo)
Federal agents seize phone of Rep Ilhan Omar in raid tied to immigration fraud probeFederal agents raided Ilhan Omar's D.C. home and seized her cellphone as part of a criminal fraud investigation into her immigration paperwork.
The office of Rep. Ilhan Omar slammed the Trump administration on Thursday over its reported plot to have the Minnesota Democrat stripped of her US citizenship. On Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the raid on Omar's home carried out earlier this week by Department of Homeland Security agents was part of and effort to…
Isra Hirsi was spotted entering Ilhan Omar's D.C. home under cover of darkness as Capitol Police were called to the residence later that evening.
The search takes place within the 60-day window of the midterm elections, when the Justice Department has historically avoided such investigative steps related to political candidates.
President Donald Trump said Ilhan Omar could face jail in addition to deportation, calling her "a disgrace" amid a federal immigration fraud probe.
The raid is part of an investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar's immigration documents, which were filled out by her late father when she was a child.
Following years of threats from President Donald Trump and other Republicans to deport Rep. Ilhan Omar, the Minnesota congresswoman's Washington, DC home was raided on Monday morning by agents with the Department of Homeland Security. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed that the raid was carried out as part of a judicially…
The DOJ disbanded its crypto enforcement team in April 2025 and ordered inconsistent investigations closed - while the president's family runs a crypto business CNBC, 8 April 2025 (Blanche memo)
Rep. Ilhan Omar’s residence searched as part of ongoing criminal investigation: DOJA Department of Justice spokesperson said the search was part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
“The governor is 100% guilty. He's 100% guilty. He's a fraud.
US federal agents on Monday launched a raid on the Washington home of Democratic representative Ilhan Omar, an outspoken critic of US President Donald Trump, officials said. The raid followed a criminal fraud investigation into the Somali-born lawmaker's immigration paperwork submitted by her late father when she was a child, Fox…
Republicans' reconciliation package puts $70 billion into ICE's department NBC News, May 2026
Rep. Omar's D.C. home searched by DHS investigatorsSources say the investigation centers on Rep. Ilhan Omar's immigration documents, involving paperwork filled out by her late father when she was a child.
· Homan confirms 'criminal' investigation involving Ilhan Omar, says he knows 'things are going on’ from the morgue, 13 Sep 2026
· WATCH: Ilhan Omar denies feds have contacted her after border czar Homan confirms 'criminal' investigation from the morgue, 18 Sep 2026
· Could Trump revoke Ilhan Omar's citizenship for alleged brother marriage? Ex federal prosecutor breaks it down from the morgue, 29 Sep 2026
· Did Ilhan Omar marry her own brother? The claims explained from the morgue, 22 Sep 2026
· Russia’s Lavrov blasts US, Western allies as “warmongers’ in fiery UN tirade from the morgue, 26 Sep 2026
· Russia and China unite against US over Iran and Cuba in UN speeches from the morgue, 26 Sep 2026
· U.S. military lays groundwork for potential action around Cuba from the morgue, 26 Sep 2026
· The United Nations Security Council has resoundingly rejected a United States bid to extend a global arms embargo on Iran. In a Security Council vote, United States only got support from the Dominican from the morgue, 14 Aug 2020
· U.S. Threatens New Economic War on Iran by Targeting China & Tehran's Other Top Trading Partners from the morgue, 25 Aug 2026
· In Defiant UN Speech, Iranian President Says US and Israel Are the Real Terrorists from the morgue, 23 Sep 2026
· Trump slams reporting on removal of his endorsements from GOP candidate's website from the morgue, 27 Sep 2026
· Donalds removes several Trump mentions from campaign website from the morgue, 22 Sep 2026
· GOP hopeful removes ‘Pro-Trump’ mention from campaign slogan in deep-red seat from the morgue, 23 Sep 2026
· Where Trump’s 2026 endorsement record stands after primary season from the morgue, 9 Sep 2026
· U.N. experts say U.S. may have committed war crimes with 2 Iran strikes from the morgue, 22 Sep 2026
· Trump Says 'Big Decision' Coming on Whether to 'Annihilate' Iran from the morgue, 18 Sep 2026
· Pentagon No. 3 frustrates senators in closed-door briefing on Iran war, Trump defense strategy from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Senate Democrats, minus Fetterman, urge Hegseth to provide receipt for Iran war costs from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Hegseth on "devastation" to Iran's capabilities from the morgue, 10 Sep 2026
· Trump admits Iran war will not end before midterms from the morgue, 9 Sep 2026
· Iran War Trump Said Would Be Quick Has Now Lasted 6 Months With 'No End In Sight' from the morgue, 28 Aug 2026
· CBO Finds Trump's Iran War Has Already Cost Nearly $40 Billion—And That's a 'Conservative' Estimate from the morgue, 15 Sep 2026
· Tillis supports Hegseth impeachment resolution: 'He needs to go' from the morgue, 18 Sep 2026
· Massie Files Impeachment Articles Against Hegseth for Illegal Iran War, Boat Murders from the morgue, 15 Sep 2026
· Massie launches effort to impeach Hegseth from the morgue, 15 Sep 2026
· Tillis urges Trump to fire Hegseth over 'inept management' of military from the morgue, 2 Sep 2026
· Tillis renews calls for Hegseth’s firing after Driscoll’s departure: ‘I have never witnessed more inept management’ from the morgue, 2 Sep 2026
· Farmer who voted for Trump says farmers are "all just in survival mode" from the morgue, 18 Sep 2026
· Farmer who voted for Trump says "I can't stay in business" amid rising costs from the morgue, 18 Sep 2026
· Massie says he’s convinced enough Republicans to pass Epstein Files II discharge petition from the morgue, 18 Sep 2026
· Massie names Epstein 'coconspirators,' discusses new Epstein files legislation from the morgue, 1 Sep 2026
· Read Thomas Massie’s eight impeachment charges against Pete Hegseth from the morgue, 15 Sep 2026
· Fake Republican midterm convention site still redirects to Epstein files from the morgue, 7 Sep 2026
· Trump says he has a ‘big decision’ coming up on Iran: ‘Do I want to go in and annihilate them’ from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Fox News Poll: 71% think Trump administration lacks plan to end Iran war from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Iran recently downed at least 2 American drones, officials say from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Big Oil Stocks Surged Due to Iran War—and New Filings Show How President Trump Cashed In from the morgue, 27 Aug 2026
· Live updates: Energy secretary downplays rising gas prices as US, Iran trade strikes from the morgue, 6 Sep 2026
· U.S. Strike on Iranian School May Have Been War Crime, U.N. Report Says from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· UN Inquiry Finds US Strike on Minab, Iran That Killed 123 Children Was War Crime from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· UN investigators conclude ‘reasonable grounds’ to believe certain US strikes in Iran were war crimes from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· UN Suspects US War Crimes in Iran from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· US Condemned for 'War Crimes' After Bombing of Wedding Party in Iran from the morgue, 2 Sep 2026
· US investigating if missile hit Iranian wedding ceremony, killing 4 from the morgue, 4 Sep 2026
· Trump says he has a ‘big decision coming up’ on Iran from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· White House issues explosive response to UN-backed report claiming US committed war crimes against world’s No.1 sponsor of terror, Iran from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Human rights experts: 'Reasonable grounds' to believe US committed war crimes with Iran strikes from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· US Energy Consumers Have Spent $121 Billion Extra Since Trump Launched Iran War: Moody's from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Iran downed at least 2 American drones in recent days, U.S. officials say from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Iran: Account of US Air Force colonel's rescue 'fictional' from the morgue, 17 Sep 2026
· Consumer Burden of Trump Iran War Exceeds $100 Billion as Oil Prices Pass $100 a Barrel from the morgue, 9 Sep 2026
· 'A Serious and Alarming Threat': US Bombing, Blockade Deepen Iran Medical Crisis from the morgue, 9 Sep 2026
· Consumer Confidence Hits Lowest Level in Months as US Faces 'Trump's Reckless Tariffs and War With Iran' from the morgue, 25 Aug 2026
· U.S. Air Force officer rescued from Iran speaks for the first time to 60 Minutes from the morgue, 8 Sep 2026
· Rep. Thomas Massie forcing vote on Pete Hegseth's impeachment from the morgue, 16 Sep 2026
· Did Johnson Just Adjourn Congress for 7 Weeks to Avoid Massie's Impeachment Articles Against Hegseth? from the morgue, 16 Sep 2026
· The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Massie saying Johnson is sending the House home early to prevent Hegseth impeachment from the morgue, 16 Sep 2026
· ‘You’re Elected to Fight and Kill the Other Side’: How Congress Lost Its Way from the morgue, 16 Sep 2026
· Army combat veteran challenging Mike Lawler calls Hegseth national security 'hazard,' backs impeachment from the morgue, 6 Sep 2026
· Former Air Force secretary says he 'couldn't serve' in Trump administration from the morgue, 6 Sep 2026
· Former Air Force secretary: Hegseth's Pentagon 'dysfunctional' from the morgue, 3 Sep 2026
· House Republicans split over leaving Washington early for campaign trail from the morgue, 1 Sep 2026
· Since 2025, Trump Made More Stock Trades Than All 535 Congress Members Combined from the morgue, 16 Sep 2026
· Fossil Fuel Advertising Contracts Hit Record High as Big Oil Pockets Billions From Iran War from the morgue, 16 Sep 2026
· 'How are we gonna get through this?' Many Americans are struggling as prices rise from the morgue, 16 Sep 2026
· Trump's Top Oil Stocks Have Made Him Up to $4.4 Million Richer During Iran War: Analysis from the morgue, 9 Sep 2026
· 'Trump Did It!': At $5.85 a Gallon, Diesel Price Hits All-Time High in US Thanks to War on Iran from the morgue, 4 Sep 2026
· Gas prices reach Labor Day high amid Iran war from the morgue, 8 Sep 2026
· Trump Hammered Over Iran War That Drove Gas Prices Above $4 Per Gallon Every Day in August for First Time Ever from the morgue, 31 Aug 2026
· Warsh under pressure as Fed weighs rate hike from the morgue, 15 Sep 2026
· Inflation held at 3.4% in August in consumer price index, creating tough choice for Warsh Fed from the morgue, 11 Sep 2026
· Warsh indicates Fed could raise rates to cool inflation from the morgue, 28 Aug 2026
· Key U.S. Bond Rate Near 20-Year High as Oil Prices Keep Climbing from the morgue, 15 Sep 2026
· 10-year Treasury yield hits highest level since 2007, oil surges above $105 as Fed expected to hike interest rates from the morgue, 15 Sep 2026
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front. The byline is a pen name for a column drafted by a machine and checked by the editor: how this is made.