Overview
- Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani called the surveillance of a private Signal chat used by court observers deeply troubling and said his incoming administration will examine the NYPD’s involvement.
- The NYPD confirmed participation in the FBI probe and framed it as part of a broader counterterrorism investigation into potential crimes including weapons training, violence against police, property damage, and bomb-making.
- Handschu Committee civilian representative Muhammad Faridi said he reviewed NYPD records related to the inquiry and concluded it met the committee’s guidelines.
- The FBI said access to the encrypted Signal messages came from a “sensitive source with excellent access,” indicating an insider provided the content.
- A joint FBI–NYPD report quoted the chat and labeled the courtwatchers “anarchist violent extremist actors,” while volunteers continue reporting rising ICE detentions during check-ins at 26 Federal Plaza.