Blakeman backtracks claim his 'intelligence division' has proof Mahmoud Khalil is funded by terrorists

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman alleged, without evidence, on CNN Monday that his "intelligence division" told him a Columbia University protest leader arrested Saturday by federal agents was "paid by a terrorist organization."

But after facing swift pushback by other guests on CNN’s "NewsNight" with Abby Phillip, Blakeman, a Republican, backtracked from his original allegation. He instead said, without proof, that the pro-Palestinian protest leader, Mahmoud Khalil, was paid by "anti-American" groups. 

"I'm going to ask one more time," Phillip said. "Do you know for a fact that he is being paid by another entity, especially a terrorist organization? Can you state that as a fact?"

"I can state with the fact that he's being paid as the other professional protesters are being paid by anti-American organizations that are engaged in nefarious activities," Blakeman responded. 

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said Khalil's arrest on Saturday was tied to President Donald Trump's executive orders prohibiting antisemitism on college campuses. Immigration authorities have also said they were acting on a State Department order to revoke Khalil's green card, according to his attorney, Amy Greer.

A Blakeman spokesman Tuesday referred requests for comment to the Nassau County Police Department.

Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said in a statement that the department's intelligence division "doesn't share specifics" with Blakeman but "discusses in general terms information regarding subversive activity, hate crimes or potential terrorist related activities in the region. Our intelligence believes Mahmoud Khalil and many other protesters are paid by organizations that spew antisemitic and anti-American hate."

The Nassau County Police Department has an intelligence unit comprising 70 sworn and civilian staff who collect and share data and sensitive information with local and federal law enforcement agencies.

Khalil helped lead Columbia’s student protests last spring, which were heavily critical of Israel's response to the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas, which has been designated by the United States as a terrorist organization.

Born in a Syrian refugee camp, Khalil is married to an American citizen and has not been charged or convicted with any terrorist-related activity. 

In a statement, Michael Fricchione, a spokesman for the Democrat legislative minority, accused Blakeman of "chasing headlines and spouting nonsense" instead of focusing on his taxpayer-funded position.

"He keeps bragging about 'intelligence' — amusing, considering he has the security clearance of a guy Googling conspiracy theories at 2 a.m.," Fricchione said. 

Blakeman is running for reelection in November against Legis. Seth Koslow (D-South Merrick),

A federal judge on Monday blocked efforts to deport Khalil, who is being held at an immigration detention center in Louisiana, until a hearing on Wednesday, court documents show.

During the CNN segment, Blakeman called Khalil a "paid protester" and a "virulent antisemite" who was "paid by a terrorist organization that beheads babies."

The county executive then encouraged Khalil to sue him if he wanted. Greer did not respond to a request for comment.

It's not the first time Blakeman has stoked controversy on Phillip's show.

Last week, Blakeman was criticized for calling Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky "a thug" on the program when discussing the contentious Feb. 28 Oval Office meeting with Trump and Vice President JD Vance.