FBI Director Kash Patel said Monday the bureau has identified people and groups who are funding leftist protests aimed at Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Minnesota.
During an appearance on conservative commentator Benny Johnson’s podcast, Patel confirmed that the FBI’s investigation into the unrest is active and expanding.
BREAKING: FBI Director Kash Patel CONFIRMS Full Investigations Are Active Into Left-Wing Terrorist Signal Chats in Minnesota, ‘They Should Be Worried.’
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 26, 2026
“We're investigating. As soon as Higby put that post out, I opened an investigation on it. If that leads to a break in the… pic.twitter.com/0qeI68AS8U
“We’ve got … investigations ongoing into the funding of this,” Patel told Johnson, stressing that the protests are “not happening organically” and that investigators have made “substantial progress” in uncovering groups and individuals financially backing them.
FBI Director Kash Patel Announces They've IDENTIFIED Funders Of The Left-Wing Terrorist Groups Attacking ICE In Minnesota, ‘This Isn’t Organic’
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 26, 2026
“We've got also investigations ongoing into the funding of this. We've made substantial progress. We've actually found groups and… pic.twitter.com/pDV7EIInE5
Patel also asserted that federal authorities are examining encrypted left-wing chats connected to protest organizers in Minnesota — warning those involved that they “should be worried” if they have violated federal statutes.
The revelations come as Minnesota remains a flashpoint in national debates over immigration enforcement.
Federal immigration operations in the Twin Cities, including “Operation Metro Surge,” which has seen thousands of arrests, have drawn fierce criticism from local officials and left-leaning groups.
Protests intensified after the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti by Border Patrol agents during an immigration enforcement action in Minneapolis over the weekend.
Videos widely circulated online depicting the incident sparked nationwide demonstrations and solidarity protests in cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York City.
While advocates for the demonstrations cast them as spontaneous expressions of outrage over what they view as excessive federal force, Patel’s comments and the FBI’s investigative focus suggest organizers and backers are part of a coordinated effort.
Federal authorities have also made targeted arrests linked to property damage and threats against law enforcement in Minneapolis, reinforcing the administration’s stance that anti-ICE protests are increasingly violent and orchestrated.
Patel’s announcement adds pressure on federal and local officials to distinguish between lawful protest and actions that impede enforcement operations or endanger agents and civilians.
Patel’s remarks mirror earlier comments he made when pledging to “follow the money” behind broader leftist protest movements that have resulted in riots and clashes with law enforcement.
By Charlie McCarthy
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Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
