Trump’s and Vance’s Islamophobic Target

Friends,

Sorry to intrude on your inbox again today, but I wanted to bring your attention to today’s raid by federal agents on the Washington-area home of Rep. Ilhan Omar — 22 days before she faces reelection to Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.

The raid reportedly concerns Omar’s immigration history, including allegations of fraud that she has repeatedly denied.

Omar accuses the Trump regime of weaponizing law enforcement against a political opponent:

“Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement. For ten years, Trump has targeted me with baseless lies and smear campaigns. This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation. I will not be silenced.”

Months ago, Trump called Omar — a Somali-born Muslim who became a U.S. citizen and was elected to Congress in 2018 — “garbage.” He said she shouldn’t be allowed to be a congresswoman, and stood by as his supporters chanted to “send her back” to her native Somalia.

This past weekend — before today’s raid — Trump renewed his attacks on Omar. “She comes from Somalia,” Trump said, where “they don’t have a government, they don’t have police, all they have is crime and squalor.” He continued:

“She comes into our country and she says ‘my Constitution allows me.’ She’s talking about our Constitution. What they’ve done to Minnesota, these people from Somalia, should never be allowed.”

Let me remind you that this is the president of the United States mouthing this bigoted, racist, nationalistic filth.

In this weekend’s rant, Trump also stated that “JD Vance and our people are looking at it” — referring to Omar.

Today, after the raid on her home, Trump said he has “always found [Omar] to be totally crooked” and called her “a terrible person.”

JD Vance has previously accused Omar of immigration fraud without providing any evidence. In March, Vance reiterated that claim, which he said he had discussed with White House senior aide Stephen Miller.

“We actually think that Ilhan Omar definitely committed immigration fraud,” Vance told a conservative podcaster. The next step, he said, was to figure out how to “build a case.”

In a democracy, the highest officials of one party do not “build cases” to pursue legislators from the opposing party.

Nor do they investigate their political opponents within days of an election, in violation of explicit Department of Justice rules.

The Department of Justice guidance for protecting election integrity explicitly states that the Department should not engage in investigative measures that might “chill legitimate voting and campaign activities” or “interject an investigation itself into ongoing campaigns.”

The Justice Manual further states that federal prosecutors and agents “may never select the timing” of investigative steps, charges, or public statements for the purpose of affecting an election or giving an advantage or disadvantage to a candidate or political party.

Election-year guidance dating back to at least 2008 has emphasized that “politics must play no role” in investigative or charging decisions and that prosecutors should exercise particular caution close to elections.

If Democrats regain control of the House, they must investigate this flagrant abuse of power by Trump, Vance, and the Department of Justice.

In the meantime, you might consider making a contribution to Ilhan Omar’s campaign, here. And if you’re able to volunteer for her campaign, do so here.

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