New York City Antifa 'journalist' arrested over antisemitic attacks

A second suspect has been arrested in connection with a string of vandalism targetting the homes of Jewish members of the Brooklyn Museum’s board of directors in June. Samuel Seligson, 32, of Brooklyn, turned himself in to the police on Tuesday.

A law enforcement official familiar with the case told the Associated Press that Seligson was accused of traveling in a car with the vandals and going with them onto private property. Seligson has been charged with two counts of criminal mischief with a felony hate crime advancement.

According to amNew York Metro, Seligson turned himself in at the 7th Precinct station at around 7:30 am. Police sources told the outlet that Seligson was allegedly the lookout for the vandals.

An attorney for Seligson, Leena Widdi, said that the NYPD raided her client’s apartment twice in one week leading up to him turning himself in, and said the use of the hate crime statute against a journalist was an "appalling" overreach, AP reported.

"Samuel is being charged for alleged behavior that is protected by the First amendment and consistent with his job as a credentialed member of the press," Widdi told AP. "What is even more concerning, however, is that this member of the press is being charged with a hate crime."

Sources familiar with the investigation told amNew York that Seligson allegedly did not have any camera equipment on him during the incidents. Seligson is an Antifa "journalist" who uses the alias "Thizzl" on social media.

In June, the homes of Brooklyn Museum director, Anne Pasternak, and members of the museum's board of trustees were vandalized, with red paint being thrown on the buildings. A sign posted outside Pasternak’s home called her a "white supremacist Zionist" and accused her of "funding genocide."

Red paint was also splattered on buildings connected to the German consulate and the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations, authorities said.

Four others have been arrested in connection with the vandalism, with Taylor Pelton, 28, of Astoria, Queens being arrested in her home on July 31 for allegedly serving as the getaway driver.