Donald Trump’s close aide Tom Homan, the US president’s “border czar,” was the target of an FBI undercover operation last year, according to a report. As per MSNBC’s exclusive report, Homan accepted $50,000 in cash after suggesting to undercover agents — who posed as business executives — he could help them secure government contracts in a second Trump administration. The FBI and Justice Department held off to see whether he would follow through if formally empowered under Trump.On November 11, 2024, six days after the presidential election that he won, the Republican named Homan as his “border czar.” Because the role is adversarial in nature, it did not require Senate confirmation or a full FBI background check.The matter stalled in January – shortly after Trump began his second and final term – despite investigators believing they had a strong criminal case. In recent weeks, the probe was officially closed after FBI director Kash Patel called for a status update.In a joint statement to the outlet, Patel and deputy attorney general Todd Blanche gave the following explanation:“The case originated under the previous Joe Biden administration. It 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.”The White House criticised the probe as “blatantly political” and one that found no evidence of illegal activity.“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,” White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson said.The FBI investigation began in Texas the summer of 2024, after a subject in a separate investigation claimed Homan was soliciting payments in exchange for awarding contracts should Trump win the presidential election. At the time, he was the president and owner of a private consulting business that offered to help companies in the border security sector secure government contracts.In Trump’s first term, Homan, 63, briefly served as the interim head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).