A restaurant owned and operated by CBS News star Norah O’Donnell’s husband has been raided by
the federal government.
Nearly a dozen
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
agents descended on the
DC
restaurant on Tuesday, requesting to review employees’ I-9 forms that confirm their identification.
The raid at Chef Geoff’s, established by O’Donnell’s spouse Geoff Tracy in 2000, did not lead to any arrests.
It lasted roughly an hour and a half, and local officials are already labeling the raid as evidence of ‘fearmongering’ from federal officials.
Shawn Townsend, President of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, made the claims to
Fox 5
, the first to report on the federal activity.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said she too was ‘disturbed’ by the at least 10 operations.
It doesn’t appear that [ICE agents] are focusing on criminals,” she stated on Tuesday. “It seems more like they’re causing disruptions.
“We have concerns regarding the scaremongering strategies we think occurred today,” Townsend further stated, as O’Donnell’s channel
continues to be subject to perorangan examination by authorities
as what Donald Trump has characterized as
slanted programming.
“There hasn’t been anyone held or taken into custody as far as I know, yet despite this, interrupting meal services during peak dining times when restaurants are operating is quite concerning,” the head of the trade association added.
There is an atmosphere of apprehension… A significant portion of the workforce at our restaurants in the district consists of immigrants.
The Washingtonian
The agents reportedly went to Millie’s, Pupatella, Chang Chang, Officina, and Mi Vida, as well as Jaleo, Santa Rosa Taqueria, Call Your Mother, Clyde’s, and Ghostburger. They either demanded I-9 forms or stated they would be back shortly to collect them.
Chef Geoff’s West End, as well as Tracy’s restaurant located on the opposite side of town, appeared to dodge the series of dawn raids.
Each agent, clad in a Homeland Security uniform, requested the staff to verify their coworkers’ employment eligibility.
Unverified accounts of operatives being present at additional DC eateries have also been circulating.
reached out to Chef Geoff’s for a statement.
The eatery is situated just steps away from American University and offers classic American cuisine along with handcrafted pasta options.
As stated on its website, ‘it offers contemporary American fare with a welcoming neighborhood ambiance suitable for all occasions.’
Meanwhile, agents were captured on video entering Millie’s, where they apparently faced resistance from the owner, Bo Blair.
‘They all came in all of the public entrances at the same time,’ Blair said of the raid on his place in Spring Valley, which is not far from Tracy’s restaurant in Northwest.
Blair refused the agents’ request to talk with their staff members, causing them to depart voluntarily.
Michael Jones, general manager of Pupatella’s in Dupont, told Eater agents ‘came to the front door’ but never entered the building and were ‘
very cordial [and] polite.’
In her statement, Mayor Bowser emphasized that her city’s police department was not involved in the raids, which are part of a broader enforcement action taken by the federal government.
Part of his massive deportation strategy, Trump announced this week that he would offer $1,000 to undocumented immigrants willing to voluntarily go back to their native lands.
He has also simultaneously honed in on legacy news stations like CBS, calling federal probes to look into their content.
Trump is also the plaintiff in a $20billion lawsuit that lists both Paramount and CBS News as defendants, alleging that an October 60 Minutes segment featuring Kamala Harris was ‘deceptively edited.’
Even though various media sources have recently covered the mediation discussions held over the past few weeks, an agreement has yet to be reached.
Paramount is looking to merge with Skydance later this year, and the deal requires federal approval.
Tracy, who is also a chef and owns five restaurants in the area, has been wed to O’Donnell for nearly 25 years.
The two share three children, Henry, Grace, and Riley,
In an interview with Woman’s World in 2021, O’Donnell, 51, called Tracy, 52, her ‘best friend.
‘Having a partner who makes you laugh and who is supportive means everything,’ the then host of CBS Evenings said.
She has since stepped away, citing the rigors of the to job. She is still a senior correspondent.
CBS, meanwhile, remains on the hook for the $20billion lawsuit, which Paramount is reportedly seeking to settle to the tune of $15-$20million.
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