FBI Director Kash Patel told Benny Johnson that the agency opened an investigation into anti-ICE Signal chats exposed by independent journalist Cam Higby.
The chats revealed plots allegedly involving interference with ICE operations in Minnesota.
Johnson asked Patel about the operation:
JOHNSON: And this has now been exposed with some of these Signal chat leaks. The independent journalist who had done the exposing was just on right before you, and wanted to ask about this. He says that he has submitted some of the information that was available. There are top level leaders inside of the political infrastructure of Minnesota who are on these chats, and obviously you can’t conspire in order to attack federal agents. This is something that is at scale. They have license plate readers. They’re able to identify these agents. They’re able to dox them, find out where they’re sleeping at night. Is any of this legal, Kash?
PATEL: That’s exactly what we’re investigating. Look again, the First Amendment. You want to go peacefully protest, do it. You want to bring your firearm under the law, you’re allowed to bring it, as long as you don’t incite violence and or commit another crime in doing so.
What we’re asking people to do, what I’m asking people to do, is on the ground in Minnesota, is why would you bring a firearm in a situation that is so volatile right now, where so many arrests have been made, where so many people are coordinating to attack and expose federal law enforcement officers, that is just not smart. It is just not going to lead to a good scenario. And so we need everybody to tamp down, obviously, on that side.
But you’re right. Some of the best reporting has been through you, and I think Mr. Higby was just on before, before I was and other individuals.
