Allegations of high-level corruption erupted Saturday after reports surfaced that a Justice Department probe into Tom Homan, President Trump’s border czar, was dropped despite evidence that he accepted a $50,000 bribe delivered in a bag by undercover FBI agents.
MSNBC reported that during an undercover operation last year, the FBI recorded Homan accepting cash after suggesting he could help the agents—posing as business executives—secure government contracts in a second Trump administration. The New York Times added that the cash, placed in a bag from the food chain Cava, came from a counterintelligence investigation that had not initially targeted Homan. Audio and possibly video recordings of the transaction exist.
“Americans deserve disclosure of evidence showing top DHS official Homan accepting a bag full of $50,000 in cash. We need to know why the investigation was dropped—all the facts and evidence,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
The case also implicates FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney Pam Bondi, both Trump appointees, raising questions about political interference. The Justice Department has not provided a clear reason for shutting down the investigation. A Trump appointee previously described the probe as a “deep state” operation, and no further investigative steps were taken.
The federal investigation began in western Texas in summer 2024 after a separate inquiry revealed Homan soliciting payments in exchange for potential contracts if Trump were reelected. The U.S. Attorney’s office in the Western District of Texas worked with the FBI and Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section to investigate Homan and others based on the bribe evidence.
Democrats in Congress reacted strongly:
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Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) called Trump’s second term “the most corrupt administration we have ever seen.”
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) asked, “Who’s the illegal now, Tom Homan?”
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Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) demanded Homan be fired and charged, and called for investigation of anyone involved in covering up the case.
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Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) said, “Corruption that’s stunning even for this administration. Homan and anyone who knew and covered this up must resign.”
Trump officials downplayed the case, claiming the allegations did not hold up after review. White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson called the probe a “blatantly political investigation,” though reporting indicates the original investigation was not targeting Homan.
In a joint statement, Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said: “The investigation was subjected to a full review by FBI agents and Justice Department prosecutors. They found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing.”
Democrats continue to demand transparency, insisting the public has a right to see the evidence.
“Release the tapes—Americans deserve disclosure of evidence showing top DHS official Homan accepting a bag full of $50,000 in cash,” said Sen. Blumenthal.
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