A Democratic mayor is under investigation for allegedly “aiding and abetting” the escape of illegal immigrants from federal custody, according to a confirmation from a Republican congressman.
Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell, a left-wing Democrat, is reportedly the focus of a probe examining whether he provided material support to illegal immigrants and interfered with a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) investigation.
Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) announced that both the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the House Judiciary Committee are investigating what he described as a potential “criminal enterprise” involving the misuse of 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.”
O’Connell has publicly condemned ICE raids in Nashville, a liberal stronghold in an otherwise solidly conservative state. He has also directed city staff to disclose all communications with federal immigration authorities, a move critics say signals open defiance of federal enforcement efforts.
“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 follows a request from Rep. Andy Ogles to probe Mayor O’Connell’s ties to what the congressman described as “pro-illegal policies” in Nashville, as detailed in a letter he sent to ICE. It comes on the heels of a major joint operation last month between ICE and the Tennessee State Police, which led to the arrest of over 200 individuals—many of whom, according to ICE, had connections to criminal gangs.
After the raid, O’Connell signed an executive order directing staff to disclose communications with ICE and DHS, a move criticized by Ogles as “an outrageous directive.” Ogles added: “If you’re helping violent gangs destroy Tennessee by obstructing ICE, you belong behind bars.”
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.’”
White House border czar Tom Homan has zeroed in on other local officials as well, issuing sharp warnings to Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. Homan has threatened both with arrest if they attempt to obstruct or interfere with ICE enforcement actions.
“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.
