Indianapolis, IN—Former Congressional candidate Gabriel "Gabe" Whitley has issued a defiant response following his arrest on charges related to a tweet aimed at local political commentator Abdul Hakim Shabazz. Whitley, who was arrested in August on a felony charge, was accused of stalking Shabazz on social media, with allegations of threatening posts and incitement of violence.
Whitley, however, is standing firm in his defense, stating, "I fully stand by my previous remarks and the memes/jokes I’ve shared regarding Abdul. In my opinion, he’s a corrupt individual who has stolen from taxpayers and faces serious allegations of misconduct, including pedophilia. There is a signed affidavit from the victim, and I have no sympathy for those accused of such heinous crimes. My disdain for Abdul stems from the lies he’s spread about me, but the idea that I would stalk an alleged pedophile is absurd. Anyone who believes that narrative is misguided.""
The controversy began when Shabazz filed a report claiming that Whitley had been stalking him online, accusing Whitley of making threatening posts and revealing personal information about Shabazz's residence and vehicle. According to the probable cause affidavit, Whitley posted a photo of Shabazz's home and vehicle, along with inflammatory language suggesting violence. One of the most controversial posts reportedly included a bloody image of Thomas Crooks, a man who was killed after attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump. Whitley’s post allegedly said, "The Secret Service missed (Abdul)," followed by Shabazz's address.
Shabazz, who has a history of civil litigation with Whitley, expressed fear for the safety of his family and himself, stating that Whitley’s actions left him unsure of what the former candidate was capable of. Shabazz reported feeling threatened not just for his own life but for the safety of his loved ones.
Despite the accusations, Whitley continues to assert his innocence, describing the charges as politically motivated.
“If my tweets/ jokes are (If you know me; I always post dark humor because I’m a former union member welder.) intimidating because his feelings got hurt, he is a pansy, and so is his prosecutor friend. These are trumped-up charges that will be dismissed,” Whitley said.
He emphasized that he never stalked Shabazz, explaining that he had known Shabazz’s address for over two years due to ongoing legal disputes initiated by Shabazz.
Whitley’s remarks also targeted Shabazz’s public image, pointing out that Shabazz ran for mayor and was rejected by voters.
"He is a public figure who ran for mayor, and the voters didn’t want an alleged pedophile to represent them," Whitley claimed, further questioning the legitimacy of the charges against him.
Police, however, take the situation seriously. The affidavit indicates that detectives confirmed Whitley’s ownership of the X account @realhonestgabe and linked it to the same email he used for his previous political candidacy filings. The search warrant executed at Whitley's residence followed Shabazz's report and the confirmation of the posts.
Whitley's supporters argue that the arrest is an overreach, with some claiming it is an attempt to silence a vocal critic of the political establishment. Critics, however, point to the explicit nature of the posts and the possible dangers they present.
As Whitley faces felony charges, the case highlights the growing tensions between political figures and the role of social media in fueling these conflicts. Whether the charges will stick or be dismissed, as Whitley claims, remains to be seen.
The situation is still developing, with legal experts weighing in on the potential outcomes and the precedent it could set for cases involving online speech, threats, and the responsibilities of public figures in maintaining civil discourse.