DOJ Closes Bribery Probe into Border Czar Tom Homan

Lead: The Justice Department has closed an FBI investigation into White House “border czar” Tom Homan’s alleged acceptance of $50,000 in cash from undercover agents, finding no credible evidence of wrongdoing.

Nut Graf: The inquiry, which centered on a 2024 sting operation in Texas, stalled after Trump appointees reviewed the case and deemed it unprovable, underscoring tensions over potential conflicts of interest at the highest levels of immigration enforcement.

Investigation Origins and Closure

Undercover FBI agents posing as business executives recorded Homan last September indicating he could help secure government contracts in a second Trump administration in exchange for cash. The agents delivered $50,000 in a bag, but Homan was not yet a public official at the time.

• The probe began in summer 2024 in western Texas following a tip in an unrelated case
• Justice Department officials concluded prosecutors could not demonstrate Homan performed-or promised to perform-a specific official act in return for the cash

FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the closure, stating the case “originated under the previous administration” and yielded “no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing”.

White House and Political Reactions

White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson called the investigation “blatantly political” and lauded Homan as a “career law enforcement officer” doing “a phenomenal job”. Democratic lawmakers criticized the decision:

• Senator Adam Schiff called it a “corrupt attempt to conceal brazen graft.”
• Representative Pramila Jayapal described it as evidence of the “most corrupt administration we have ever seen.”

Homan’s Role and Background

Tom Homan, 63, served as acting ICE director during Trump’s first term and was named border czar November 2024 without requiring Senate confirmation. His previous “zero-tolerance” policies led to family separations at the border, and he has since overseen mass deportation operations.

Implications for Immigration Policy

The closure of the probe removes a potential distraction for the administration’s aggressive immigration agenda. Critics argue that Homan’s financial ties to border-security contractors and his consulting firm, Homeland Strategic Consulting, pose conflicts of interest, while supporters say his expertise is vital to carrying out President Trump’s deportation plans.