Kathy Castor joins 40 House Democrats who skip letter on Ilhan Omar raid

Forty House Democrats did not sign a letter sent on Oct. 26 that condemns the federal government’s early morning raid on Representative Ilhan Omar’s home. The letter, signed by 175 members of Congress, criticizes the Oct. 12 search and the ongoing investigation into the Minnesota Democrat.

The open letter is addressed to Attorney General Todd Blanche and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin. It states that lawmakers are “profoundly alarmed by your weaponization of federal law enforcement” against Omar. The signatories demand the administration refrain from taking further actions that could affect the outcome of any upcoming election.

Kathy Castor of Florida’s 14th District was among those who did not sign the document. She was not the only Florida representative to abstain. Darren Soto of the 9th District and Jared Moskowitz of the 23rd District also skipped the letter. It is unclear why these three lawmakers chose to stay silent on the issue.

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 race for elected office in 2016. Omar is currently up for reelection.

Castor is currently running against Republican Michael Beltran in her congressional race. She has a history of not aligning with the progressive wing of her party. In September, she was one of only two Florida Democrats who joined Republicans in a bill condemning Democratic Socialism.

Castor re-affirmed her position on that vote during a radio debate in early October. She told WMNF that she rejects socialism. She noted that many neighbors in the Tampa Bay area fled socialism and authoritarianism, and that she has listened closely to their stories. Castor’s office has not responded to requests for comment regarding the missing signature.