Patriot Brief
- What Happened: FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed a federal investigation into so-called “SignalGate,” involving Signal app group chats tied to Minneapolis anti-ICE activists.
- Why It Matters: The probe stems from allegations that encrypted chat groups were used to monitor and interfere with federal ICE operations.
- Bottom Line: The FBI is investigating whether these organized activities crossed legal lines into obstruction or worse.
The federal government has officially stepped in. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the bureau has opened an investigation into what is now being referred to as SignalGate, a growing scandal involving encrypted Signal app group chats allegedly used to coordinate anti ICE operations in Minnesota.
Patel made the confirmation during an interview with Benny Johnson, stating that the FBI is actively reviewing allegations that left wing activists used Signal groups to track federal agents, interfere with deportation efforts, and potentially dox law enforcement officers. Patel said the investigation is focused on determining whether protected speech crossed into criminal obstruction.
The allegations extend beyond grassroots activists. Reports circulating among investigators and journalists point to involvement by Democratic operatives and officials, including former Walz campaign adviser Amanda Koehler and Minneapolis City Council member Aurin Chowdhury. Additional claims suggest Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan may have served as an administrator in at least one of the Signal groups, though that detail has not yet been confirmed publicly.
Sources familiar with the probe say the chats were allegedly used to coordinate protests in real time, relay ICE locations, and direct participants to impede federal operations. Some reports claim the coordination was encouraged by officials aligned with Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, as the Department of Justice simultaneously examines whether Minnesota officials obstructed federal immigration enforcement.
Patel emphasized that peaceful protest is protected, but encrypted coordination designed to interfere with law enforcement is not. The FBI, he said, will follow the facts wherever they lead.
SignalGate has now moved from online allegations to a formal federal investigation. The question is no longer whether these groups existed, but whether state connected actors crossed a legal line. As the probe expands, Minnesota’s political leadership may soon find itself answering to more than activists and press conferences.