Dozens of House Democrats have declined to publicly align themselves with Rep. Ilhan Omar as the Minnesota “Squad” member faces a federal investigation. Their hesitation comes as Democratic leaders defend Omar and call on the Trump administration to end what they describe as politically motivated scrutiny.
A letter led by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and signed by 175 House Democrats accused the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security of weaponizing federal law enforcement against Omar. Federal agents searched Omar’s Washington, D.C., home earlier this month. About 40 lawmakers from the 214-member Democratic caucus did not sign the letter.
“Congresswoman Omar is seeking reelection in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District in just one week. News of the search warrant, whether properly predicated or not, could affect voters’ decisions, which is exactly why federal law enforcement should not engage in such conduct when voters are casting their ballots,” the letter states. “This type of interference strips Minnesotans of their right to a free and fair election guaranteed to them under the Constitution.”
The decision by several Democrats to withhold their names represents a notable measure of distance from Omar, who has repeatedly sparked controversy with her outspoken criticism of Israel and her views on foreign policy.
Those who did not sign include Reps. Tom Suozzi, Laura Gillen and Josh Gottheimer. Each represents a district in New York or New Jersey, where closely contested races and local political considerations could make an alliance with Omar costly.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also declined to sign, while current Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) added his name. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, a Washington Democrat representing a competitive district, was not among the signatories either.
The split suggests that although many Democrats are prepared to defend Omar against what they call a “politically motivated investigation,” others are reluctant to associate themselves with the progressive lawmaker so close to Election Day.
“This weaponization of law enforcement to harass a sitting Member of Congress 22 days before an election is unprecedented and unacceptable,” the letter said.
“DOJ has long followed a policy not to take investigative steps relating to a candidate this close to an election if delaying the action will not jeopardize a criminal investigation, a policy which Attorney General Blanche has previously invoked as far back as nine months before an election.”
Choosing not to sign the letter does not necessarily indicate that those lawmakers support the investigation or believe Omar committed wrongdoing.
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The investigation centers on allegations that Omar or her late father misrepresented her birth year on immigration documents. On Oct. 12, federal agents executed a court-approved search warrant at her Washington, D.C., residence and seized several phones and notebooks.
Omar, one of President Trump’s most outspoken critics, has rejected the allegations and characterized the investigation as a political attack.
Supporters argued that the timing of the search could influence voters in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District, where Omar is seeking reelection just days before ballots are cast.
The absence of unanimous Democratic backing could signal a change for Omar, who has previously benefited from broad support within her party when Republicans moved to sanction her.
In 2023, every House Democrat opposed a Republican effort to remove Omar from the House Foreign Affairs Committee over past comments about Israel. Republicans ultimately succeeded in ousting her from the panel.
More recently, the House narrowly rejected a Republican resolution to censure Omar over remarks she made after the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The measure failed by a 214-213 vote in September 2025.
That vote underscored the sharp partisan divide surrounding Omar, with Democrats largely resisting Republican efforts to discipline her.
The lawmakers who stayed off the letter highlight the political limits of Omar’s support, especially among Democrats who must appeal to voters outside the party’s progressive base.
The Post contacted the offices of Suozzi, Gillen, Gottheimer, Pelosi and Perez but did not receive an immediate response.
