Tom Homan’s Alleged Pay-to-Play Bribery Scheme
DDF has brought FOIA suits to obtain documents from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) related to an alleged bribery scheme involving Tom Homan, the White House Border Czar.
Summary
Prior to Trump’s re-election, Homan allegedly received $50,000 in cash from undercover FBI agents in exchange for assistance in winning government contracts. Despite the ostensibly damning reports, the investigation was abruptly ended by Trump appointees.
“Tom Homan is alleged to have taken tens of thousands of dollars to peddle government contracts. If true, that is textbook corruption.
If Trump appointees shut down the investigation, that raises even more serious questions. The administration must come clean and provide the tapes and files.
If they do not, we hope a judge will force them to because the American people deserve the truth.”Virginia Canter
Chief Counsel and Director of Ethics and Anti-corruption, Democracy Defenders Fund
In September 2025, Democracy Defenders Fund filed Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests with DHS, the FBI, and DOJ, requesting information related to the FBI’s corruption investigation of Homan.
DDF also requested that the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) launch an investigation into whether Homan falsified his required public disclosure report by failing to disclose the $50,000 payment. After new reports emerged that Homan participated in contract discussions about detention centers with former clients, DDF urged OGE to widen its investigation.
Following the government’s refusal to release records, DDF filed three lawsuits.
- The first is against the FBI after it denied our FOIA request and then failed to respond to an administrative appeal within the deadline. We are seeking all records related to the FBI’s investigation into Homan’s possible corruption, including original and unedited audio recordings, video footage, and photographs taken or collected in connection with his communications with FBI agents concerning promises to provide government contracts.
- The second is against the DOJ, seeking investigation records, video and audio recordings, and case files related to the FBI’s probe of Homan.
- The third is against DHS, seeking records about contractors who may have benefited from the alleged pay-to-play scheme. As the administration’s “Border Czar,” Homan oversees policies affecting millions of people and billions in federal spending. Both agencies missed deadlines and failed to produce a single record.
Timeline
March 30, 2026
DDF and Free Information Group file two lawsuits against DOJ and DHS challenging the agencies’ failure to release records related to allegations that Tom Homan accepted a bribe.
February 17, 2026
DDF and Free Information Group sue the FBI over the agency’s refusal to release records regarding its abruptly concluded investigation of Tom Homan’s alleged pay-to-play corruption.
February 3, 2026
DDF submits a series of FOIA requests. The first request seeks records from DOJ related to the agency’s investigation of Homan. The second request seeks documents from DHS that could provide insight into contractors who may have benefited from the alleged pay-to-play scheme.
September 24, 2025
DDF submits FOIA requests to the FBI and DOJ seeking the release of audio and video recordings and investigatory records related to the FBI’s corruption investigation of Tom Homan.
Co-Counsel
Free Information Group
File Downloads
March 30, 2026
DDF v. DOJ
March 30, 2026
DDF v. DHS
February 17, 2026
DDF v. FBI
February 3, 2026
FOIA request for records that could provide insight into contractors (DHS)
February 3, 2026
FOIA request for related to the DOJ’s investigation of Homan (DOJ)
September 30, 2025
DDF letter to OGE to widen its investigation
September 23, 2025
DDF letter to OGE
