Politics
NEW: DHS Launches Investigation Into Big City Democrat Mayor
A Democratic mayor is under investigation for allegedly “aiding and abetting” the escape of illegal immigrants from custody, a Republican congressman has confirmed.
Freddie O’Connell, the progressive mayor of Nashville, is reportedly the target of an investigation exploring whether he provided material “aid” to illegal immigrants and obstructed an investigation by U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement.
Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) announced that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the House Judiciary Committee are investigating a potential “criminal enterprise” involving federal funds.
“We’ve heard it: the individuals that the mayor is standing with are murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, sexual predators, child traffickers…the list goes on,” Ogles said from the Tennesee State Capitol building on Monday.
“I will always stand on the rule of law and with ICE. And I don’t just stand with ICE; I’ll stand in front of ICE because we the people have had enough,” the Republican lawmaker said.
O’Connell has been on record denouncing ICE raids in his liberal city, which is an outpost in the otherwise deeply conservative state. He previously ordered city staff to disclose all communications they have with federal immigration authorities.
“Due to the remarks of Freddie O’Connell and the potential for aiding and abetting illegal immigration, the Homeland Security and the judiciary committees will be conducting an investigation into the mayor of Nashville, his conduct, and whether or not federal dollars have been used in a criminal enterprise,” Ogles continued.
The investigation fulfills a request by Ogles to examine the Democrat’s connection to “pro-illegal policies” in Nashville, as outlined in a letter sent to ICE by the lawmaker. It builds on last month’s joint activity between ICE and Tennessee State Police that resulted in the arrest of over 200 individuals, many with criminal gang affiliations, the agency stated in a press release.
Following the raid, Mayor O’Connell signed an executive order instructing staff to disclose communications with ICE and DHS, a move blasted by Ogles as “an outrageous directive.”
“If you’re helping violent gangs destroy Tennessee by obstructing ICE — you belong behind bars,” the Republican said at Monday’s press conference, the NY Post reported.
DHS named O’Connell in its press release, accusing the mayor of supporting “pro-illegal policies” while “claiming that these operations were done by ‘people who do not share our values of safety.’”
Home to approximately 700,000 residents, Nashville is Tennessee’s largest city and a bastion of liberal policies. However, O’Connell is restricted from preventing local authorities from cooperating with ICE; state lawmakers banned sanctuary city policies in 2019.
White House border czar Tom Homan has directed his fire at other local officials, such as Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, threatening both with arrest if they interfere with ICE operations.
“It’s a felony if you knowingly harbor and conceal an illegal alien from immigration authorities. It’s also a felony to impede a federal law enforcement officer,” Homan told Fox News’ Sean Hannity in November. “So if he don’t help, that’s fine.”
“He can get the hell out of the way, but we’re going to go do the job,” he said about Johnston before adding, “I find it hard to believe that any mayor or governor would say they don’t want public safety threats removed from their neighborhoods.”
“Me and the Denver mayor, we agree on one thing: he’s willing to go to jail, I’m willing to put him in jail.”
