A Democratic congressional hopeful in Illinois shared a video on social media that seems to mirror events detailed in a federal indictment accusing her of obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.
Kat Abughazaleh, 26, who identifies as a “Gen Z influencer,” has dismissed the charges as a “political prosecution,” asserting she was exercising her First Amendment rights, not violating any laws.
“I have been charged in a federal indictment sought by the Department of Justice,” she posted on X. “This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.”
DHS SLAMS ‘DISHONEST, DESPERATE’ GEN Z CANDIDATE WHO ATTACKED KRISTI NOEM’S ‘CRIMES’ AT ANTI-ICE PROTEST
During a demonstration outside ICE’s Broadview Service Staging Area near Chicago on Sept. 26, federal prosecutors claim she was part of a group that surrounded a law enforcement vehicle, physically blocking it before someone etched “PIG” onto the vehicle, and others removed a mirror and windshield wiper.
According to the indictment, Abughazaleh is accused of participating in the blockade at approximately 7:45 a.m. that day.
“ABUGHAZALEH joined the crowd at the front of the Government Vehicle, and with her hands on the hood braced her body and hands against the vehicle while remaining directly in the path of the vehicle, hindering and impeding Agent A and the vehicle from proceeding to the [staging area],” the indictment states.
The video seemingly illustrates this, showing Abughazaleh at the front of the crowd, leaning against the front of an unmarked black SUV with flashing lights.
Abughazaleh describes herself as a radical progressive Democrat whose platform features a wealth tax on wealthy Americans, a $25 minimum wage, and “an immediate pathway to citizenship for DREAMers and other undocumented immigrants.” Her website lists knitting and video games among her hobbies.
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE KNOCKED OVER DURING CHAOTIC ANTI-ICE PROTEST
Read the indictment:
She has also strongly opposed the Trump administration’s actions against illegal immigration. In a televised interview earlier this month, she told former White House press secretary Jen Psaki that she believes Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem “should be tried at the Hague” — referring to the International Criminal Court in the Netherlands.
Abughazaleh faces two counts under a federal indictment unsealed Wednesday: conspiracy to prevent a law enforcement officer from performing their duties and forcibly impeding, intimidating, and interfering with a federal officer. Five other individuals at the protest were also charged.
Two of them are also active in local politics: Michael Rabbitt, a Democratic committee member in Chicago’s 45th Ward, and Catherine Sharp, a candidate for the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
The Gen Z candidate is vying for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District seat to succeed outgoing 81-year-old Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who is retiring after holding the position since 1999.
Fox News’ Patrick McGovern contributed to this report.
