Obama accuses Trump administration of targeting Ilhan Omar over federal investigation

Former US president Barack Obama has condemned the federal investigation into congresswoman Ilhan Omar, accusing the Trump administration of using law enforcement against a political critic. In a post on X on Sunday, he called the inquiry “so appalling” and said the government was acting against Omar “because she has dared to criticize the president”. That allegation about the investigation’s motive is disputed by the White House. [1] [2]

Agents from Homeland Security Investigations searched the Minnesota Democrat’s Washington home on 12 October. The Justice Department told the Associated Press they had executed a judicially authorised warrant in an ongoing federal criminal investigation, but gave no details of its basis. The search took place about three weeks before a midterm election in which Omar is seeking re-election; the department has historically sought to avoid overt investigative steps involving candidates within 60 days of an election. [3]

Reporting on the inquiry has focused on Omar’s immigration paperwork. Axios says records indicate she was 17 when her father became a US citizen in 2000, and that investigators are seeking evidence she was actually 18 — an age difference that could affect whether she qualified for citizenship through him. The suspected discrepancy has not been established. Omar has rejected allegations about her immigration status. Axios also reports, citing the Washington Post, that officials in the first Trump administration examined similar allegations in 2019 but found insufficient evidence to pursue a full investigation. [4] [3]

Obama said the administration was “actively trying to deport” Omar. Any attempt to revoke her citizenship would require proof of material lies in the naturalisation process, the BBC reports; a search warrant does not decide that question. [1]

White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis denied that Trump had turned the Justice Department against political opponents. Trump said after the search that he had “nothing to do” with it, although days earlier he had suggested that Vice-President JD Vance and “our people” were investigating Omar. Neither remark establishes who directed the search. [1] [3]

Omar’s lawyers have demanded the return of property seized from her home, calling the search unjustified and unlawful. The Justice Department said its lawyers and agents had complied with court orders and legal obligations. [5]