Did Trump's border czar take a $50,000 bribe?

An investigation into Tom Homan, the White House border czar under United States President Donald Trump, has come to light.

Homan, who now oversees the administration’s sweeping immigration enforcement strategy, was recorded by the FBI in 2024 allegedly taking a $50,000 cash payment during a covert operation.

The probe, which began during the final months of US President Joe Biden’s administration, was centred on allegations that Homan promised to direct lucrative border enforcement contracts to private companies in exchange for bribes if Trump won a second term.

However, once Trump returned to power in January this year, the investigation was gradually stalled and eventually terminated, raising serious questions about political interference.

How did the FBI sting operation go?

The origins of the case trace back to mid-2024, when federal investigators in western Texas were pursuing a separate national security matter.

During that probe, an individual under investigation repeatedly brought up Homan’s name, claiming he was requesting financial kickbacks from companies hoping to benefit from future immigration enforcement contracts.

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According to internal Justice Department case summaries reviewed by MSNBC, FBI agents posing as contractors were introduced to Homan through a mutual business contact.

Over the course of several weeks, the undercover agents communicated and met with this intermediary and Homan himself. In these discussions, Homan allegedly indicated he could help them secure high-value government contracts once Trump returned to the White House.

The operation culminated on September 20, 2024.

At a prearranged location in Texas, equipped with hidden cameras, agents recorded Homan accepting a bag containing $50,000 in cash.

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The meeting and exchange were captured in detail and formed the core of the evidence in the bribery investigation, according to sources familiar with the case and internal records.

Homan reportedly told the undercover operatives that he would hold onto the money in a trust until after his return to public office.

At the time, he was not an official government employee and was instead running his private consulting firm, Homeland Strategic Consulting, which advertised its ability to assist companies in navigating the federal contracting system.

The firm’s website highlighted its close relationships with key federal departments, stating, “We have a proven track record of opening doors and bringing successful relationships to our clients, resulting in tens of millions of dollars of federal contracts to private companies.”

What did FBI do after the bribe?

Once the payment was made and recorded, FBI officials and Justice Department prosecutors began considering how to proceed.

Several federal officials involved in the probe believed that the recorded exchange and Homan’s statements provided a strong basis for charging him with conspiracy to commit bribery.

However, legal experts noted a complication.

Homan was not a government official at the time of the payment, and Trump had not yet returned to office. This created ambiguity over whether the federal bribery statute directly applied to the transaction.

Prosecutors therefore explored a range of potential charges, including conspiracy, bribery, and two forms of fraud, according to documents reviewed by MSNBC.

Some attorneys concluded that the most prudent course of action would be to continue monitoring Homan after he assumed his expected government role.

If he reaffirmed his promise or took steps to deliver on the alleged deal while serving in an official capacity, prosecutors believed they could then move forward with a much clearer case of federal bribery.

How did Homan rise through Trump’s circle?

Homan had been closely associated with Trump for years. A veteran of federal border enforcement, Homan had previously led Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as acting director during Trump’s first administration.

His tenure was marked by aggressive enforcement policies, including the controversial “zero-tolerance” initiative that led to the separation of thousands of migrant children from their families.

Due to widespread criticism, Homan’s nomination to permanently lead ICE faltered in the Senate, and he retired in April 2018.

After leaving government, he established Homeland Strategic Consulting while also becoming a Fox News contributor and aligning himself with right-leaning organisations such as the Heritage Foundation.

During Trump’s 2023-2024 campaign, Homan was a prominent surrogate, appearing at rallies and events to champion Trump’s hardline immigration policies.

In July 2024, speaking at the National Conservatism Conference, Homan declared, “Trump comes back in January, I’ll be on his heels coming back, and I will run the biggest deportation operation this country’s ever seen.”

On November 11, 2024, Trump formally announced that Homan would serve as his border czar in a White House advisory position.

Unlike the role of ICE director, this position did not require Senate confirmation or a detailed FBI background check, allowing Homan to assume his duties immediately after Trump’s inauguration.

How did Trump & Co. have react?

As news of the investigation began to emerge, the White House and Justice Department officials loyal to Trump dismissed the allegations and insisted that the probe was politically motivated.

FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a joint statement saying, “This matter originated under the previous administration and was subjected to a full review by FBI agents and Justice Department prosecutors. They found no credible evidence of any criminal wrongdoing. The Department’s resources must remain focused on real threats to the American people, not baseless investigations. As a result, the investigation has been closed.”

White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson also defended Homan forcefully, calling the probe a politically driven attack by Biden-era officials.

She said, “This blatantly political investigation, which found no evidence of illegal activity, is yet another example of how the Biden Department of Justice was using its resources to target President Trump’s allies rather than investigate real criminals and the millions of illegal aliens who flooded our country.”

Jackson further stated, “Tom Homan has not been involved with any contract award decisions. He is a career law enforcement officer and lifelong public servant who is doing a phenomenal job on behalf of President Trump and the country.”

The White House maintained that Homan had taken steps to prevent any conflict of interest by shutting down his consulting firm after Trump’s victory and recusing himself from any discussions or decisions related to federal contracts.

How did the investigation cease?

The Public Integrity Section, a specialized unit tasked with prosecuting corruption cases involving public officials, joined the case in late November 2024.

However, tensions rose soon after Trump’s return to office.

In early 2025, Emil Bove, then acting deputy attorney general, was briefed on the case. According to sources familiar with those discussions, Bove expressed strong opposition to continuing the investigation, referring to it as an example of a so-called “deep state” operation.

At the same time, Bove clashed with senior prosecutors over a separate corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

When Bove ordered that case dismissed, multiple career prosecutors resigned in protest. Some of those prosecutors had also been supervising the Homan probe, further weakening the team pursuing the case.

By February this year, investigative work on Homan had largely ceased. Although some agents and prosecutors wanted to maintain surveillance to see if Homan acted on his alleged promises, top officials declined to authorise additional steps.

Can Homan be charged?

Legal specialists consulted by MSNBC explained the unusual legal challenges posed by Homan’s situation.

Under federal bribery laws, an individual can be charged only if they are a public official at the time of the offence. However, it is still a crime for anyone to solicit money to improperly influence government contracts, even if they are not yet in office.

This meant that while Homan could not immediately face a standard bribery charge for accepting the payment in September 2024, prosecutors had the option of pursuing other charges such as conspiracy or fraud.

If Homan later reaffirmed his promise or took action after becoming border czar, that could have provided the missing link for a direct bribery prosecution.

Several Justice Department attorneys believed the initial evidence was strong enough to warrant continued monitoring and potentially a formal indictment later.

By mid-2025, the investigation was officially shut down.

Despite the formal closure of the case, numerous questions remain. The exact rationale for shutting down the investigation has not been made public, and documents detailing internal deliberations have not been released.

With inputs from agencies