Obama calls Justice Department probe into fellow Democrat, Rep Ilhan Omar 'appalling'

Obama made the comment Sunday, six days after Homeland Security Investigations agents raided the Somalian-born, Minnesota congresswoman's Washington, D.C., residence.

Published: October 19, 2026 8:51am

Former President Barack Obama says the Justice Department's probe into fellow Democrat, Rep. Ilhan Omar is "appalling." 

Obama made the comment Sunday, six days after Homeland Security Investigations agents raided the Somalian-born Minnesota congresswoman's Washington, D.C., residence.

The raid Monday, as part of a larger criminal investigation into Omar's family history, was purportedly a search for evidence of possible fraud and false statements in family members' immigration paperwork. 

“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 social media, referring to President Trump.

He also said the search was to “uncover a nonexistent smoking gun from 20 years ago that will somehow make their case.” 

The federal probe purportedly centers on whether Omar’s father lied about his daughter's age when she obtained her U.S. citizenship in 2000.

Omar has said she became a lawfully naturalized citizen in 2000 after fleeing Somalia in 1995, according to CNN.

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