Rep. Ilhan Omar has enlisted two prominent Washington attorneys with extensive experience in politically sensitive federal investigations as she confronts scrutiny of her immigration history and questions surrounding her family’s finances. The Minnesota Democrat’s new legal team includes an attorney who represented President Joe Biden during the investigation into his use of an autopen and another who played a major role in both impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.

The attorneys, Amy Jeffress and Joshua Matz, are partners at the Washington law firm Hecker Fink. Both have handled major legal disputes involving Congress, the Justice Department, and the Trump administration, although neither is principally known for practicing immigration law.

Their involvement comes as federal authorities investigate matters involving Omar’s immigration records and financial disclosures, including questions about the reported value of business interests associated with her husband, Timothy Mynett. The investigation has also brought renewed attention to longstanding allegations about Omar’s earlier marriage, which she has denied.

Jeffress became Biden’s personal attorney in 2025, replacing Bob Bauer, who had served as one of the former president’s closest legal advisers.

In that capacity, she represented Biden as investigators examined his administration’s use of an autopen to sign official documents, including presidential pardons and legislation. The controversy centered on whether the automated signatures had been properly authorized and whether Biden had personally approved the actions taken in his name.

Before joining Hecker Fink, Jeffress worked at the prominent Washington firm Arnold & Porter, where she developed a practice involving high-profile investigations, government enforcement matters, and disputes involving federal officials.

Her previous clients included Lisa Page, the former FBI attorney whose private text messages with FBI official Peter Strzok became a major controversy during investigations into the bureau’s handling of matters involving Trump and the 2016 presidential election.

The messages, which included criticism of Trump, prompted allegations of political bias within the FBI. Page subsequently left the bureau, and the episode became a significant point of contention in congressional investigations of federal law enforcement.

Jeffress also served as outside counsel to the House committee investigating the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Her work included assisting the committee in its efforts to obtain testimony and documents from government officials and other witnesses.

Omar’s second attorney, Joshua Matz, has an equally prominent history in legal battles involving Trump and congressional Democrats.

Matz represented House Democrats during both impeachment proceedings against Trump and subsequently worked with the House January 6 committee.

He has also represented several major universities, including Brown University, New York University, and Columbia University, in legal disputes involving the Trump administration.

The selection of attorneys with extensive experience in congressional investigations and politically charged litigation has attracted attention because the federal inquiry reportedly encompasses both immigration-related questions and the financial affairs of Omar’s household.

Federal authorities searched Omar’s Washington, D.C., residence on October 12 as part of an investigation into whether immigration documents submitted decades ago contained false information.

Investigators from Homeland Security Investigations, the investigative division of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, executed a court-authorized search warrant and seized documents, electronic devices, and Omar’s passport.

The search was carried out under restrictions imposed by a federal magistrate judge to protect constitutional interests associated with Omar’s position as a member of Congress.

The investigation reportedly involves questions about immigration paperwork submitted by Omar’s family when they entered the United States after fleeing Somalia. Authorities have also examined whether information concerning her birth date and her father’s background was accurately represented during the immigration process.

Omar has consistently denied wrongdoing and maintains that she obtained American citizenship legally.

The investigation has also renewed attention to allegations involving her former husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. Claims circulated for years that Elmi was actually her brother and that their marriage was connected to immigration fraud. Omar has repeatedly denied those accusations, and the allegations have not been established in court.

Documents associated with the recent search reportedly reference the name Nur Said Elmi, a detail that has attracted attention because of the earlier controversy surrounding her marriage and immigration history.

The immigration inquiry is separate from another federal investigation concerning Omar’s financial disclosures, although both matters have intensified scrutiny of the congresswoman.

Questions surrounding her finances emerged after congressional disclosure forms listed business interests associated with her husband, Timothy Mynett, at values potentially reaching $30 million.

The reported increase attracted attention because earlier filings had placed the couple’s financial holdings at substantially lower amounts.

Omar subsequently amended her disclosures, explaining that accounting errors had resulted in misleading valuations of the businesses. Her office maintained that the original figures did not accurately reflect the couple’s net worth.

Federal prosecutors have nevertheless continued examining the financial filings, while congressional Republicans have sought additional information about Mynett’s business interests.

The congresswoman recently addressed her personal finances during an interview with MS NOW, claiming that she lives “paycheck to paycheck” despite receiving an annual congressional salary of $174,000.

She also described difficulties contacting her legal representatives during the search of her home, alleging that federal agents prevented her from speaking with an attorney for approximately one hour.

The raid prompted an immediate response from Jeffress and Matz, who challenged the manner in which federal investigators conducted the operation.

In a seven-page letter sent to the Justice Department on October 16, the attorneys demanded the return of Omar’s passport, electronic devices, and other property taken from her residence.

They accused federal authorities of disregarding judicial safeguards intended to protect the constitutional rights of members of Congress.

The lawyers also demanded preservation of recordings made during the search and questioned whether investigators had properly complied with requirements involving notification of congressional legal officials.

In their letter, the attorneys characterized the investigation as politically motivated and challenged its legal foundation.

“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,” the attorneys wrote.

They further argued that federal authorities had failed to establish a legitimate basis for questioning Omar’s citizenship.

The Justice Department rejected the accusations, maintaining that investigators had complied with the applicable legal requirements and the court’s instructions.

The investigation has also expanded beyond Omar herself. Reports indicate that several members of her family received grand jury subpoenas seeking information concerning their immigration histories and documents submitted to federal authorities.

The renewed inquiry follows an earlier examination of Omar’s immigration background during Trump’s first administration. According to subsequent reporting, immigration officials who reviewed similar allegations in 2019 did not find sufficient evidence to justify a full investigation at that time.

Omar’s attorneys have pointed to the earlier review in questioning why the Justice Department is now pursuing allegations that have circulated for years.

The congresswoman has also sought financial assistance from supporters to cover the mounting expenses associated with her legal defense.

In a video recorded inside a moving vehicle and released Tuesday evening, Omar warned that the legal proceedings would impose a substantial financial burden.

“It is going to be a very expensive and challenging time and so we appreciate whether you’re able to send $5, $10, $20,” she said.

A review of Omar’s campaign finance disclosures found no payments to Jeffress, Matz, or their law firm recorded through the October 15 reporting deadline. That does not necessarily establish whether the attorneys have received compensation through other arrangements.

Meanwhile, President Trump has continued publicly criticizing Omar and calling for her departure from Congress.

On Thursday evening, Trump demanded that the Minnesota Democrat “IMMEDIATELY” resign, accusing her of having used a different name when taking her oath of office.

The president has repeatedly raised questions about Omar’s immigration background and has defended the administration’s scrutiny of the congresswoman.

Omar, one of the most prominent members of the progressive Democratic group commonly known as the Squad, has frequently clashed with Trump over immigration enforcement, foreign policy, and other administration priorities.