Obama blasts federal probe of congresswoman Ilhan Omar as 'so appalling'
BBC News reports that Barack Obama has criticized a federal criminal investigation into Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, calling it a direct result of her outspoken criticism of President Donald Trump.
"The full weight of the federal government is being brought down on a law-abiding elected official because she has dared to criticize the president," Obama wrote on X, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
The White House has defended the inquiry, stating that the Justice Department is focused on restoring law and order. Last week, homeland security agents conducted a search of Omar's Washington DC home, raising concerns about her immigration status.
Born in Somalia, Omar moved to the US as a child. Media reports suggest the probe is related to her citizenship and potential discrepancies in her age at the time of her father's naturalization. Obama clarifies that her father became a naturalized citizen when Omar was 17, and questions the administration's motive for pursuing the investigation.
"Now the Administration is actively trying to deport Congresswoman Omar, seemingly based solely on the unsubstantiated theory that she was actually 18 when her father was naturalized, and therefore is not a citizen," Obama stated, adding that such actions could set a dangerous precedent.
White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis denied political motivation, stating, "Unlike Joe Biden, President Trump has not weaponized the Department of Justice against his political foes."
The investigation could potentially lead to the revocation of Omar's citizenship, requiring proof of material lies in the naturalization process. This comes after Trump's repeated claims that such investigations are not politically motivated, despite his own experiences.
Omar herself has accused Trump of launching a campaign of political intimidation and described the investigation as an escalation of that strategy.