Trump team under fire as DOJ, DHS sued over ‘hidden’ Homan records

Two federal lawsuits have accused the administration of Donald Trump of violating transparency laws by withholding records related to alleged bribery claims involving border official Tom Homan.

Filed Monday by the Democracy Defenders Fund, the complaints target the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security, alleging both agencies failed to comply with the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) by missing deadlines and improperly withholding documents.

The lawsuits stem from a September 2025 report claiming Homan accepted $50,000 in cash from undercover Federal Bureau of Investigation agents posing as business figures seeking favorable contracts if Trump returned to office. 

According to the filings, the FBI probe began during the prior administration but was later halted without explanation.

Officials under FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi previously said no credible evidence of wrongdoing was found, leading to the case’s closure.

However, the nonprofit argues the DOJ has neither released the requested records nor justified withholding them under FOIA exemptions, effectively denying the request. 

A separate complaint alleges DHS failed to conduct adequate searches for relevant documents.

The group also points to lengthy delays, with one DOJ office estimating a response timeline of up to 650 days.

The plaintiffs are asking a federal judge to declare the agencies in violation of FOIA, compel the release of records, and award legal fees, arguing the public has a right to understand whether a corruption probe involving a senior White House adviser was improperly shut down.