DOJ Ends Bribery Probe Into Trump Border Czar Despite FBI Recording

President Donald Trump's border czar, Tom Homan, was recorded in 2024 accepting a $50,000 cash payment from undercover FBI agents posing as businessmen who sought immigration-related government contracts contingent on Trump's return to office. The FBI and Justice Department launched a federal investigation under the Biden administration, viewing the case as a potential bribery conspiracy. However, after Trump reassumed office in January 2025, FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche ordered the probe closed, citing insufficient evidence to support criminal charges and emphasizing the need to focus on real threats rather than politically motivated investigations. Critics have raised concerns about the Justice Department potentially shielding Trump’s inner circle from scrutiny, while White House officials defended Homan as a dedicated public servant and dismissed the allegations as politically driven. The investigation was described by some officials as a "deep state" operation, and no charges were filed since Homan was not a public official at the time of the payment. This case has fueled ongoing debate over legal protections for Trump allies within his administration.