Let Ilhan Omar Have Her Day in Court to Clear Her Name.

(ThyBlackMan.com) Ilhan Omar is arguably the most hated U.S. politician in the country right now. The federal government is presently investigating whether errors with respect to Omar’s immigration papers decades ago were willfully made. The search of her Washington home by federal agents which is the current home of Omar just prior to the elections in which she is to stand for re-election certainly merits close scrutiny.

She is also denying any wrongdoing in this case. She maintains that she has conducted herself honorably and that this investigation is only intended to bully and intimidate her. This type of misconduct regarding immigration matters has been previously investigated by federal authorities and was dropped by the Department of Homeland Security some years ago after an investigation into the allegations. It was determined by the Department not to pursue an investigation of these claims when they were first raised.

The Timing Raises a Fair Question

On October 12, Federal Investigators searched the home of Ilhan Omar, seeking evidence of possible false statements or immigration fraud relating to documents from her childhood that she used as part of her naturalization process. Omar became a U.S. citizen in 2000. She immigrated with her family as a refugee from Somalia when she was a child.

Regardless of whether or not you support Ilhan Omar, the investigation into potential misconduct by her must be taken seriously and followed to the appropriate conclusion, as we would expect to be the case for any U.S. citizen.

But the timing is difficult to ignore.

Omar’s house was searched 22 days before the election in which she is running for re-election. The Justice Department has in the past tried to avoid investigating candidates for office in the 60 days prior to said election. This has been referred to as the “60-day rule”. It is not a law and is not always followed but it has often been the practice of the Justice Department to refrain from public investigations of candidates for office in order to avoid the appearance of violating the constitutional rights of all citizens by politicizing their investigations.

Evidence Should Come Before Judgment

One thing that really troubles me about this story is that the allegations are traveling way faster than the facts are.

For years, conservative media has been writing about the claims of Omar’s past as an immigrant. So far, the public has seen very little solid evidence to back up the more serious of the claims. Reuters reported that investigations currently under way concern old immigration documents and similar claims have already been reported by other media in the past.

That does not mean Omar should receive special treatment. It means she should receive equal treatment. If investigators have evidence, let them present it. Are the documents even real to prove such alleged fraud? And if they do, let the legal system be able to review them. If there is no evidence of fraud then we need to be told that too.

That is how justice is supposed to work. We cannot judge based on political affiliation, race, religion, where he or she is from, etc. Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and fairness. We should be better than that.

Why the Bigger Political Message Matters

A possibly more disquieting comparison to the current American politics is to be found in an attempt to revive an obsolete ideology, which irrationally considers the losing side of the American Civil War as the “right” side for Americans to support. This comparison should disturb every American.

In many ways the Civil War was fought to save the freedom of all Americans, be they black or white. The Union victory brought an end to slavery with the 13th Amendment and no matter what problems that exist with today’s politics, there is nothing whatsoever to desire in returning to a time when it was lawful to own fellow human beings as property.

Omar represents more than a seat in Congress. She is a Black, Muslim, Somali-born American, an immigrant refugee to this country. She is a challenge to old stereotypes of who should be in the US Capitol, leading America, and what an American looks like.

That does not mean that she is above the law. Nor does it mean that she is below the law either.

America Should Not Make Citizenship a Political Weapon

For one reason or another, I am going to be particularly sensitive here.

The granting of citizenship is one of the most sacred acts of this great country. Once someone becomes a citizen, removing that status is an extraordinarily serious matter. They must have proof to back up their allegations and act within the bounds of the law.

A Washington Post report looks at the current Omar investigation, and what it could mean for her citizenship. Omar has rejected the allegations and says she is confident that she did nothing wrong.

My concern is to see facts, not political theater. I do not wish to see Rep. Omar exonerated simply because she is a Democrat. I wish her to be found free of any charge should there be no evidence of any wrong doing. And I wish the full rigor of law to be brought to bear were there evidence of wrongdoing, regardless of her status as a Member of Congress, as a Democrat, or as an immigrant.

The Silence Is Deafening

So many people are staying silent and this is one of the most disturbing aspects of this scandal.

Journalist Roland Martin and others are asking a question on his Roland Martin Unfiltered platform – Why are prominent Black Republicans silent while a Black congresswoman is under a legally dubious, politically motivated federal investigation?

Those who make their living fighting for due process and equal protection under the law have gone silent. They have had little to say about a Black Muslim congresswoman having her home raided three weeks before an election — with no charges filed.

Their silence in this matter does not go unnoticed. So do their so-called “principles” even reflect their values or are those just a bunch of canned talking points that can be employed or jettisoned at will depending on the circumstances and the party in question?

Martin correctly stated that the measure of political integrity is what you say when it costs you something to say it.

Let Ilhan Omar Fight Back With the Facts

Omar has said she is prepared for the legal fight ahead. She went through every detail of the raid on her home in a recent interview and according to her, there was no wrongdoing on her part. She has also been talking about the threats being made to her and her family since her home address was posted.

I find that especially disturbing. As always, disagreement with her policies, her votes and her stance on various issues are fair topics of discussion and even critique. Threats of harm to her and her family are not. That is democracy. But intimidation is something else.

Instead of piling more insults on her head during the time of the investigation, why not respond respectfully and constructively with transparency? Let the evidence come forward. Let Omar’s lawyers challenge it. Let an independent court decide what matters. Then let the American people judge her political record for themselves.

Finish story here; Let Ilhan Omar Have Her Day in Court to Clear Her Name.