Anti-ICE activist, Dem House candidate Kat Abughazaleh quits interview when asked about being indicted on federal charges over violent Chicago-area protest

After former Media Matters activist turned Illinois congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh was indicted on federal charges for her actions during a violent ICE protest in Chicago, she gave an interview to podcaster Tara Palmeri—only to walk out rather than take questions about the indictment.

Palmieri's questions were pretty basic, but they were still too much for Abughazeleh, who simply disconnected the chat and left the interview. Her actions were reminiscent of California gubernatorial candidate Katie Porter, who recently complained to a journalist during an interview about her asking follow-up questions.

"I don't understand why she left the chat. I thought I was asking pretty basic questions. And I don't know. It doesn't really bode well, personally. If she wants to be a member of Congress, and she can't really handle questions," Palmieri said after Abughazaleh's departure.

The interview began normally enough, with Palmieri asking Abughazaleh, 26, about the charges she's facing.

"I plan on pleading not guilty," Abughazaleh said. "And this is a political prosecution, plain and simple. It's an effort to criminalize free speech, an effort to criminalize free association and an effort to criminalize the very act of protest, and so we're going to be pleading not guilty, and you know, the evidence will come out in court, and I fully plan on winning."

"Yeah, just to be clear," Palmieri asked, "the indictment alleges that you and others, 'surrounded a federal officer's vehicle, banged on its hood and windows etched 'pig' on the side, and impeded movement.' Did you, did you etch the word pig on the side of an, of an officer's car?"

"I'm not speaking to the specifics of anything that's in the indictment right now," Abughazaleh said. "But like I said, I do plan on pleading not guilty, and the evidence will come out in court, and you know, I plan on winning."

Palmieri played the video, showing Abughazaleh as part of an unruly mob preventing an ICE vehicle from moving forward. The crowd chanted while they banged on the car and impeded its movement.

After the video, Abughazaleh said, "Tara once again, this is my first time being federally indicted. Like I said, Yeah, 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."

Abughazaleh then left. Palmieri didn't notice at first and kept asking questions, but when she became aware, she was surprised. "Did she just sign off? Did she just leave the chat?" she asked.

"I'm so confused. I'm sorry. I don't know what just happened. Okay, well, she asked, she left because I asked her questions about what happened that day. All right, well, I will continue with the conversation," she said.