A bombshell report about an FBI bribery investigation targeting President Donald Trump's border czar has prompted a pointed response from Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The New York progressive took to social media to mock Tom Homan, who has been leading Trump's mass deportation efforts during his second term.
According to the Daily Mail, Ocasio-Cortez shared an MSNBC report about the investigation on X with the caption: "Who's the illegal now @RealTomHoman?" The comment was a direct jab at Homan, who has been the public face of Trump's controversial immigration policies.
The MSNBC report revealed that Homan was the subject of an FBI undercover operation last year after being accused of soliciting payments in exchange for promises of contracts should Trump win reelection. FBI agents posed as business executives and recorded Homan accepting $50,000 in cash after he allegedly indicated he could help them secure government contracts in a Trump administration.
The sting operation took place on September 20, 2024, when hidden cameras recorded Homan accepting cash at a designated meeting spot in Texas. At the time of the alleged bribery, Homan was appearing alongside Trump on the campaign trail but was not yet a public official.
Sources told MSNBC that Department of Justice and FBI officials decided to wait to see if Homan would deliver on his promises once he officially joined the government. The investigation involved the U.S. Attorney's office in the Western District of Texas working with the FBI and the Justice Department's Public Integrity Section.
An internal Justice Department summary reviewed by MSNBC described the probe as looking into the "Border Czar and former Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement Tom Homan and others based on evidence of payment from FBI undercover agents in exchange for facilitating future contracts related to border enforcement." The document provided specific details about the investigation's focus and scope.
President Trump named Homan as "border czar" on November 11, 2024, just six days after winning the election. The position is technically a White House role, which meant it did not require Senate confirmation or an FBI background check.
The investigation reportedly stalled after Trump was sworn in and MAGA-aligned officials took top positions at the FBI and Justice Department. Sources told MSNBC that a Trump Justice Department appointee dismissed it as a "deep state" investigation in early 2025, while other officials suggested they believed the case was politically motivated.
FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche released a statement to MSNBC saying: "This matter originated under the previous administration and was subjected to a full review by FBI agents and Justice Department prosecutors. They found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing." The statement emphasized that the department's resources "must remain focused on real threats to the American people, not baseless investigations."
White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson characterized the probe as a "blatantly political investigation" that "found no evidence of illegal activity." She framed it as another example of how "the Biden Department of Justice was using its resources to target President Trump's allies rather than investigate real criminals and the millions of illegal aliens who flooded our country."
Jackson defended Homan's character and role in the administration, stating: "Tom Homan has not been involved with any contract award decisions. He is a career law enforcement officer and lifelong public servant who is doing a phenomenal job on behalf of President Trump and the country." The statement attempted to distance Homan from any procurement decisions.
Neither the White House nor Ocasio-Cortez's office responded to the Daily Mail's request for additional comment. The lack of response from both sides leaves questions about potential next steps or further developments in the story.
The exchange highlights the ongoing political tensions surrounding immigration policy under the Trump administration. Ocasio-Cortez has been a vocal critic of the administration's approach to border enforcement and deportation policies.
Homan, as the face of Trump's mass deportation efforts, has frequently clashed with progressive lawmakers like Ocasio-Cortez. The congresswoman's social media post directly connecting Homan to the term "illegal" represents a pointed rhetorical reversal of language often used by immigration hardliners.
The revelation about the FBI investigation comes amid continued controversy over the administration's immigration policies. Critics have questioned both the ethics and effectiveness of the current approach to border security and deportation.