By Dimple Singh

Copyright timesnownews

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) conducted an undercover operation in 2024 in which Tom Homan, the White House border czar, was recorded accepting $50,000 in cash. During the sting, Homan allegedly indicated he could help undercover agents, posing as business executives, secure government contracts if Donald Trump won a second term as president. The case was based on recordings and internal documents obtained by MSNBC. At the time, Homan was not a government official. Federal investigators considered monitoring him to see if he would act on his alleged promises once he took office. However, the investigation stalled after Trump returned to the presidency in January. In recent weeks, Trump appointees officially closed the probe, after FBI Director Kash Patel requested a status update. Sources say the FBI and Justice Department did not provide clear reasons for ending the investigation. Background Of Federal Probe The investigation began in western Texas during the summer of 2024. It followed claims from another case that Homan was soliciting payments in exchange for promising contracts if Trump returned to the White House. The US Attorney’s office in the Western District of Texas, working with the FBI, asked the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section to join the investigation into Homan and others, based on evidence of the $50,000 payment in exchange for potential future contracts. Homan, 63, served as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during Trump’s first term. During the 2024 campaign, he frequently promoted his anticipated role in carrying out Trump’s immigration policies, including mass deportations. White House And Justice Department Response The White House, FBI, and Justice Department dismissed the investigation as politically motivated. In a joint statement, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the probe “found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing” and emphasized that resources should focus on real threats. White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson called the investigation a “blatantly political investigation” and defended Homan, saying he “has not been involved with any contract award decisions” and is “a career law enforcement officer and lifelong public servant who is doing a phenomenal job on behalf of President Trump and the country.” Details Of Undercover Operation Undercover FBI agents posing as contractors met with Homan and a business associate multiple times in 2024. On September 20, 2024, hidden cameras recorded Homan accepting $50,000 in cash. Investigators initially considered this strong evidence of conspiracy to commit bribery. Legal experts explained that Homan could not clearly be charged with federal bribery at the time because he was not yet a public official. Bribery statutes typically apply only to those already holding or officially appointed to government positions. The case would have required monitoring to see if Homan followed through on his alleged promises once in office. According to internal documents, Justice Department officials were reviewing four potential charges, including conspiracy, bribery, and two types of fraud. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.