DOZENS OF HOUSE DEMOCRATS BAIL ON ILHAN OMAR AS IMMIGRATION PROBE INTENSIFIES
House Democrats are splitting over Rep. Ilhan Omar as a federal investigation into her immigration history gains steam. Roughly 40 members of the Democratic caucus refused to sign a letter defending the Minnesota progressive and demanding the Trump administration drop its probe, even as progressive leaders circled the wagons.
The letter, organized by Rep. Pramila Jayapal, was signed by 175 House Democrats. It accused the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security of weaponizing law enforcement against Omar and interfering in her reelection bid. The letter claimed the investigation, which includes a search of Omar’s Washington, D.C. home earlier this month, could sway voters in Minnesota’s 5th District just days before Election Day.
The holdouts include moderate Democrats from competitive districts, among them Reps. Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen, and Josh Gottheimer. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi also declined to sign, while current Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries did. The split undercuts the narrative of unified Democratic support and leaves Omar more isolated within her own party as the probe continues.
Federal agents executed a judicially authorized search warrant on Omar’s residence on October 12. Officials have said the investigation centers on immigration paperwork filed by Omar’s late father when the family arrived in the United States as refugees from Somalia in the mid-1990s. Questions focus on whether inaccurate information was provided about her age or other details that could affect her path to citizenship. Omar has denied wrongdoing and called the probe political retribution. No charges have been filed.
The refusal of dozens of Democrats to publicly defend Omar reflects longstanding questions about her immigration record and the political risk of standing with her in swing districts. While progressive members insist the investigation is an abuse of power timed to damage a Trump critic, the non-signers appear unwilling to tie their own political fortunes to the outcome.
Sources: New York Post, Fox News, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, CBS News, Axios, House Judiciary Committee Democrats statement.