40 House Democrats Skip Letter Condemning Ilhan Omar Raid

Forty House Democrats did not sign a letter sent on Oct. 26 that demanded the Trump administration halt its investigation into Rep. Ilhan Omar. The letter, signed by 175 members of Congress, targeted the early morning raid on Omar’s Washington, D.C. home on Oct. 12. It was addressed to Attorney General Todd Blanche and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.

The correspondence expressed "unequivocal opposition" to the search of the Minnesota Democrat's residence. Signatories stated they were "profoundly alarmed by your weaponization of federal law enforcement against her." They demanded the agencies refrain from actions that could affect the outcome of upcoming elections.

Kathy Castor of Tampa Bay was among the 40 members who withheld their names. She is not the only Florida representative to sit out the effort. Darren Soto of District 9 and Jared Moskowitz of District 23 also did not sign the document. Castor is currently running against Republican Michael Beltran in Congressional District 14.

The federal inquiry focuses on whether Omar’s 2009 marriage to Ahmed Nur Said Elmi was intended to help him obtain a green card. The New York Times reported that this specific accusation was widely debunked during Omar’s first run for elected office in 2016. Omar is up for reelection this year.

Castor has a history of distancing herself from the progressive wing of the Democratic Party. In September, she was one of only two Florida Democrats to join Republicans in a bill condemning Democratic Socialism. She reaffirmed that stance on WMNF radio early this month.

"I reject socialism," Castor said in the interview. "And you’re right. I crossed the aisle not too long ago to condemn it in all of its forms. Too many of our neighbors across the Tampa Bay area fled socialism and authoritarianism, and I’ve listened very closely to their stories."