Trump Aide Homan Took $50,000 in Bribery Sting, Sources Report

As the controversy surrounding Tom Homan, the White House border czar, intensifies, many are questioning why the FBI has not released the tapes from an undercover operation in which Homan allegedly accepted $50,000 in cash. The White House has denied these allegations, asserting that Homan did not take the money from undercover agents.

The situation is relatively straightforward: approximately a year ago, during an undercover operation, the FBI recorded Homan purportedly accepting cash after suggesting he could assist agents in securing government contracts should Donald Trump return to the presidency. The investigation was ongoing until Trump’s return to the White House, at which point it stalled and was ultimately closed earlier this month.

In response to the allegations, House Democrats have demanded that the FBI release all investigative materials, including any recordings related to the case.

The White House has thrown its support behind Homan amid reports that he accepted $50,000 from undercover agents posing as businesspeople. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt provided a more detailed denial than what was initially offered by the Trump administration. She characterized the encounter as an attempt by President Joe Biden’s administration to “entrap one of the president’s top allies,” emphasizing that Homan is a “brave public servant” who has done an excellent job in helping the president manage border security.

Reports indicated that Homan accepted the cash during a meeting with undercover agents on September 20, 2024. According to the Trump administration’s Justice Department, which closed the investigation, the matter underwent a thorough review, ultimately yielding “no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing.” FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stated, “The Department’s resources must remain focused on real threats to the American people, not baseless investigations.”

During a recent Fox News appearance, Homan responded to the allegations, asserting, “I did nothing criminal. I did nothing illegal.” He highlighted his long career in law enforcement, stating, “I left a very successful business to return to government service.” Homan also mentioned that he and his family have faced death threats due to his public role.

The White House reiterated that Homan “has not been involved with any contract award decisions,” yet criticized the Biden administration’s investigation as politically motivated. Notably, Christopher Wray, the FBI director during Biden’s presidency, is a registered Republican, and the Justice Department has previously investigated Democrats for corruption, including Sen. Bob Menendez, who is currently imprisoned.

Democrats from the House Judiciary Committee have called on Patel to release “explosive recordings” and other documents from the now-abandoned investigation. They claim that multiple sources have confirmed the existence of recordings that could provide compelling evidence of Homan committing federal felonies, including conspiracy to commit bribery.

Homan has been a key figure in Trump’s hardline immigration policies, having served as acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during Trump’s first term. Following Trump’s victory in the 2016 election, Homan was appointed as “border czar” in the incoming administration.

Between his roles in both Trump administrations, Homan worked as a consultant for GEO Group, a company that invests in private prisons and has recently secured new contracts with the federal government. The Democrats’ investigation, which was reportedly blocked by the Trump administration, aimed to determine whether Homan was selling these contracts for personal profit before he had the authority to award them.

As tensions rise over this unfolding situation, questions about political interference in Justice Department matters persist. Trump’s recent calls for prosecutions of his adversaries have further tested the law enforcement agency’s independence in prosecutorial decision-making.