Gen Z House candidate indicted for attacking ICE officers quits interview after being asked about charges
Gen Z congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh made headlines recently after abruptly leaving an interview with journalist Tara Palmeri, just one day after being federally indicted for her involvement in obstructing immigration officers outside an Illinois detention facility. The indictment, which alleges that Abughazaleh and five others physically hindered a federal agent, includes serious charges such as conspiracy to impede or injure an ICE officer and vandalism, specifically scratching the word “PIG” into the side of a federal officer’s vehicle. During the podcast, Palmeri attempted to address these charges, prompting Abughazaleh to express her frustration and ultimately disconnect from the conversation entirely after just a couple of questions.
The interview took a turn when Palmeri played video footage of the incident in question, which showcased Abughazaleh participating in a protest that obstructed an ICE officer’s vehicle. This moment seemed to trigger her departure from the interview, leaving Palmeri bewildered and questioning why the candidate chose to leave rather than engage with the serious allegations against her. Abughazaleh had previously declared her intention to plead not guilty, framing the indictment as a political prosecution. However, Palmeri’s probing questions about the gravity of the charges and the implications for Abughazaleh’s congressional aspirations highlighted the challenges she may face in her campaign.
As she competes in a crowded primary for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, this incident raises questions about her ability to handle tough scrutiny, a skill crucial for any aspiring politician. Palmeri noted that while the charges could hinder Abughazaleh’s chances of winning over voters, they might also bolster her fundraising efforts. The abrupt end to the interview leaves a lingering uncertainty about how Abughazaleh will navigate the political landscape amidst such serious legal challenges, and whether she can effectively communicate her stance to the electorate in the face of controversy.
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One day after being federally indicted for her role in obstructing immigration officers outside an Illinois detention facility, Gen Z House candidate Kat Abughazaleh rage-quit an interview after being asked about her charges.
Abughazaleh joined Tara Palmeri on her podcast Thursday, which followed an
indictment by a grand jury
alleging the Illinois congressional candidate “physically hindered and impeded” a federal agent who was “forced to drive at an extremely slow rate of speed to avoid injuring any of the conspirators.” Abughazaleh was one of six people named in the indictment, which also alleged the suspects scratched the word “PIG” into the side of a vehicle being driven by a federal immigration officer in addition to banging, pushing, impeding and vandalizing the car.
“Did she just sign off? Did she just leave the chat?” Palmeri questioned after Abughazaleh spontaneously removed herself from the virtual interview after only being asked a question or two about the charges she is facing and their severity. “I’m so confused. I’m sorry, I don’t know what just happened. Um…okay. Well, she asked– she left because I asked her questions about what happened that day. Alright, well I will continue with the conversation on my own, I guess. This is very bizarre.”
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Abughazaleh’s abrupt exit came after she appeared to get frustrated with Palmeri’s questions regarding her federal charges.
“What do you think about those charges though, they seem really serious?” Palmeri asked Abughazaleh, noting they include accusations of “conspiracy to impede or injure an ICE officer” and “assaulting or impeding that officer.”
“Those are pretty big charges,” Palmeri remarked.
Abughazaleh responded that she “thinks” the charges were “slightly different,” but added that “no matter what the charges are in the indictment” she plans to plead not guilty. “This is a political prosecution plain and simple.”
But Palmeri continued to press
the Gen Z candidate
about the severity of her charges, particularly on whether she was party to scratching the word “PIG” in the side of the federal immigration officer’s car.
‘GEN Z’ DEM CANDIDATE CHARGED WITH INTERFERING WITH ICE POSTED VIDEO OF HERSELF IN MOB BLOCKING UNMARKED SUV
“I’m not speaking to the specifics of anything that’s in the indictment right now, but, like I said, I do plan on pleading not guilty and the evidence will come out in court and I plan on winning,” Abughazaleh responded with a stern demeanor much different from what she had at the start of the discussion.
Then Palmeri played a video recording of the incident alleged in the indictment, where Abughazaleh can be seen impeding an ICE officer’s car with a large group of protesters, which evidently was the final straw for her.
“When you see that, what do you think right now?” Palmeri asked.
“Yeah, Tara, once again, this is my first time being federally indicted, like I said,” Abughazaleh shot back. “I plan on pleading not guilty, the evidence will come out in court and I plan on winning. Thank you so much for having me.”
Following Abughazaleh’s response, her camera disappeared but Palmeri appeared unaware she had left and immediately went into asking another question before realizing what had happened.
“Yeah, so I guess, this – this is – I’ve never had that happen before,” Palmeri said in disbelief once she understood the situation. “Apologies,” she added before pointing out that the young congressional candidate will have to get used to answering tough questions if she wants to serve in Congress.
“This could hinder her ability to serve in Congress, it could make it more difficult – you know, some people might not vote for her, but at the same time, she’s probably raised a ton of money off of it,” Palmeri continued about the charges after Abughazaleh left, noting she has been in second in a very crowded primary of 13 candidates in her race to represent Illinois’ 9th Congressional District.
“I don’t understand why she left the chat. I thought I was asking some pretty basic questions, and, I don’t know, it doesn’t really bode well for – if she wants to be a
member of Congress,”
Palmeri continued. “I think it probably would’ve been better to just talk through it, but if she can’t take a few questions about what happened from me, how is she going to handle representing an entire district?”
Fox News Digital reached out to Abughazaleh’s campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response in time for publication.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
