WASHINGTON — Trump Border Czar Tom Homan was reportedly caught on tape accepting a bag filled with $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents in September 2024.
Homan, who had served as acting director of ICE from January 30, 2017, to June 29, 2018, was a private citizen at the time, according to two people familiar with the matter and a government document confirming the existence of the probe.
MSNBC journalists Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian reported that Homan was video recorded accepting the cash from undercover FBI agents during a sting operation in Texas. The report, published on September 20, detailed how the Justice Department investigation was later shut down after Trump took office.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the investigation found "no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing," leading to its closure.
Officials from the Trump administration dismissed the probe as a “deep state” operation targeting Trump allies.
The investigation was launched after a subject in a separate probe claimed Homan was soliciting payments in exchange for awarding contracts should Trump win the presidential election, according to an internal Justice Department summary of the probe reviewed by MSNBC.
FBI agents considered charging Homan with fraud or conspiracy charges at the time, but ultimately felt the agency could build a federal bribery case if they waited to see if Trump were elected, whether he would appoint Homan to a position within the administration, and if they could collect additional evidence of Homan actually steering contracts.
Homan did not return MSNBC's request for comment.
During the White House press briefing on Monday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked if President Trump had requested that the Department of Justice close the case and whether Homan would be returning the alleged bribe.
“Mr. Homan never took the $50,000 you’re referring to, so you should get your facts straight, number one,” said Leavitt.
"I did nothing criminal, I did nothing illegal," Homan told Fox News on Monday night. "It's hit piece after hit piece after hit piece, and I'm glad the FBI and DOJ came out and said, you know, that nothing criminal happened."
3 comments on this item
Only paid subscribers can comment
Please log in to comment by clicking here.
conrope
Headline "caught taking brides". MSNBC reported he was videoed. If MSNBC said it, it had to be true.
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Report this
GLEN GADFLY GIBELLINA
Compared to the Biden crime syndicate that took millions from foreign governmentsthis would not even count as a misdemeanor in the scope of things
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Report this
Lktinsanfran
If it was not illegal why was the $50 grand in a brown paper bag? C'mon people, every crime drama shows them carrying payoff money in a brown paper bag or an attache case. Does not sound legit to me.
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 Report this