The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has launched a probe into the conduct of one of U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth's aides, who is accused of misrepresenting himself to visit a Staunton restaurant owner who was detained by immigration agents.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained Ismael Ayuzo Sandoval, 41, on Oct. 29 in Staunton. Within hours, Duckworth’s staffer, Edward York, arrived at the St. Louis ICE office to see Ayuzo.

ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, in a letter sent to Duckworth’s office on Wednesday, claimed that York misrepresented himself as an attorney to get access to Ayuzo and falsified a federal document.

“This staff member allegedly did so to gain access to the detainee and seek his release from custody, and he accomplished it by falsifying an official

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