Posted on June 16, 2010

Congressman Wants Obama’s Aunt to Testify on Asylum

Stephen Dinan, Washington Times, June 14, 2010

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After initially being ordered deported, Zeituni Onyango was granted asylum by an immigration judge last month. Rep. Steve King of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the House immigration subcommittee, said that raises questions that she must answer. He said he wants to invite Ms. Onyango to be a witness at a hearing Thursday.

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“In order to better determine whether favoritism played a role–especially because Ms. Onyango had been earlier turned down for asylum and was ordered to be deported in 2004 before her nephew became president–the subcommittee needs to hear from Ms. Onyango herself,” he said.

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A spokesman for Ms. Onyango’s lawyers said she will not testify, and said Mr. Obama did not exercise influence in the case.

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A Democratic aide said Mr. King’s move was odd because he didn’t follow the usual procedure of inviting witnesses. The aide said usually the minority party secures the witness’s agreement first, and then has the panel issue the invitation.

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