The Federal Bureau of Investigation reportedly captured Tom Homan, Donald Trump’s newly appointed border czar, accepting $50,000 in cash from undercover agents posing as contractors before the 2024 presidential election.
The incident, which took place in Texas on September 20, 2024, was documented through hidden cameras. Investigators believed Homan had promised to help secure border security contracts once Trump returned to the White House. According to internal case records, federal officials initially considered charges that included conspiracy, bribery, and fraud.
At the time of the transaction, Homan was not a government official, and Trump had not yet resumed office, making it difficult to pursue a traditional bribery case. Justice Department officials decided to continue monitoring him after his appointment in Trump’s second administration. However, the inquiry was later halted when Trump’s new appointees closed the case.
Reports from MSNBC indicated that officials under Joe Biden’s administration had intended to wait and see whether Homan acted on his promises if Trump won. After Trump took power, his allies within the Justice Department and the FBI dismissed the matter, saying there was no credible evidence of wrongdoing.
Critics, including Democratic senator Adam Schiff, accused Trump’s circle of protecting Homan and burying the case. Schiff alleged that Trump’s allies were aware of the cash handoff but blocked further action.
The White House under Trump defended the closure, describing the earlier investigation as politically driven. Officials argued that resources should be used on real threats rather than on what they called baseless probes.
The controversy deepened when Trump reacted angrily on social media, directing Attorney General Pam Bondi to install a loyal aide, Lindsey Halligan, as interim U.S. attorney in Virginia. Trump pushed for charges against his political rivals, Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James, despite prosecutors finding no evidence to support the claims.
Homan, who previously led Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump’s first term, has been tasked with running a sweeping deportation initiative. Before returning to government, he served as a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, which is linked to Trump’s broader policy project.
The case leaves questions about whether federal law enforcement was pressured into abandoning an investigation that once appeared to have strong evidence of corruption.