White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks at a podium

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt delivers remarks during a daily briefing in the Brady Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, DC, on February 25, 2025. By Shutterstock / Jimwatson.

Politics

White House Defends Border Czar Tom Homan Amidst FBI Sting Allegations

White House defends border czar Homan, accused of taking $50k. Trump supports him; DOJ closed the probe.

byEditorial Staff

September 22, 2025, 4:59 PM

Executive Summary

Border czar Tom Homan faces allegations from *The New York Times* and CNN that he accepted $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents last year.

The White House strongly defended Homan, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt denying the claims and affirming President Trump’s full support for his appointee.

An FBI investigation into Homan’s conduct was reportedly closed by Trump appointees within the Department of Justice, who concluded there was “zero evidence of illegal activity or criminal wrongdoing.”

The Story So Far

Reports from *The New York Times* and CNN allege that border czar Tom Homan, a key appointee of President Trump, accepted $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents last year during a sting operation. However, the investigation into Homan was subsequently shut down by Trump appointees within the Department of Justice, including FBI Director Kash Patel, who concluded there was no evidence of illegal activity, leading the White House to vehemently defend Homan and dismiss the allegations as a baseless entrapment attempt.

Why This Matters

The allegations against border czar Tom Homan, despite President Trump’s strong defense and the White House’s denial of wrongdoing, coupled with the investigation’s closure by Trump-appointed Justice Department officials, raise significant questions about the integrity and impartiality of federal investigations into high-ranking government appointees, potentially further eroding public trust in law enforcement’s independence.

Who Thinks What?

The White House, President Trump, and Trump appointees within the Department of Justice (including FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche) strongly defend Tom Homan, asserting he did nothing wrong, did not accept the alleged $50,000, and was the target of an FBI entrapment attempt, leading to the investigation being closed due to a lack of evidence.

The New York Times and CNN reported that Tom Homan was recorded last year accepting $50,000 in cash from individuals posing as businessmen, who were in fact undercover FBI agents, as part of a broader investigation.

The White House has strongly defended border czar Tom Homan following recent reports from The New York Times and CNN alleging he accepted $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents last year. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Homan “did absolutely nothing wrong” and affirmed President Trump’s full support for his appointee amidst the accusations.

Allegations and White House Response

The New York Times initially reported that Homan was recorded last year accepting the payment from individuals posing as businessmen. This transaction was reportedly part of a broader FBI investigation that was not initially focused on Homan.

A source familiar with the matter informed CNN that Homan accepted the cash payment during a sting operation in September 2024. The payment was allegedly contained within a bag from the fast-casual chain Cava.

Investigation Details and Closure

The inquiry into Homan’s conduct reportedly commenced prior to Trump’s second term in office. The investigation was subsequently shut down following a review conducted by Trump appointees within the Department of Justice.

Leavitt vehemently disputed the claim that Homan accepted the $50,000, asserting that the FBI had been “going undercover to try and entrap” him. She emphasized that the case was closed after an examination by Trump Justice Department officials and FBI Director Kash Patel, who concluded there was “zero evidence of illegal activity or criminal wrongdoing.”

Both the White House and the Department of Justice have actively downplayed the reports concerning Homan’s alleged acceptance of the payment. Director Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche collectively dismissed the investigation as “baseless.”

Ongoing Political Implications

The administration’s steadfast defense of Homan underscores a significant political battle over the integrity of a key border official and the conduct of federal law enforcement investigations.