
CBS News star Norah O'Donnell's husband has his posh DC restaurant raided by ICE
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 eatery Tuesday, asking to see staffers' I-9 forms that verify their identity.
The raid at Chef Geoff's, founded by O'Donnell's husband Geoff Tracy in 2000, resulted in no 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 look like [ICE agents] are targeting criminals,' she claimed Tuesday. 'It does look like they're disrupting.'
'We are concerned about the fear-mongering tactics we believe happened today,' Townsend added, as O'Donnell's network continues to face separate scrutiny from officials for what Donald Trump has framed as slanted programming.
'There was no one detained or arrested that I've heard of but regardless of that fact, disrupting food service during lunch hours while restaurants are open is alarming,' the trade association boss continued.
'There is a sense of fear… Immigrants make up a large amount of workers in our restaurants in the district.'
The Washingtonian reported the agents also visited Millie's, Pupatella, Chang Chang, Officina and Mi Vida, Jaleo, Santa Rosa Taqueria, Call Your Mother, Clyde's, and Ghostburger to either demand I-9 forms or say they would soon return to do so.
Chef Geoff's West End, Tracy's restaurant on the other side of town, seemingly avoided the slew of early morning raids.
All of the agents - each dressed in a Homeland Security uniform - asked staff to confirm employees' employment eligibility.
Other unconfirmed reports of agents at other DC restaurants have circulated as well.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Chef Geoff's for comment.
The restaurant is located a stone's throw from American University, and features typical American fare and homemade pasta dishes.
'Contemporary American cuisine and a friendly neighborhood feel fit for any occasion,' is how it's described on its website.
local officials are already labeling the raid as evidence of 'fearmongering' from federal officials, as O'Donnell's employer faces a separate probe - and lawsuit - from the administration. The outdoor area of Chef Geoff's is seen here Tuesday
Agents, meanwhile, were filmed marching into Millie's, where they were reportedly met with pushback from 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 denied the agents requests to speak with staffers, leading them to leave willingly.
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 made clear her municipality's police department played no part in the raids, which come as part of a wider crackdown from the federal government.
As part of his mass deportation plan, Trump this week said he would pay $1,000 to illegal immigrants who return to their home country willingly.
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.'
Despite recent mediation talks reported by several outlets last weeks, a settlement has not been 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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