A woman from Irondequoit, a suburb of Rochester, New York, has been taken into custody following accusations that she led a radical extremist group and funneled tens of thousands of dollars to a Palestinian terrorist organization. She was also reportedly seen posing with hand grenades in front of a Hamas flag.
Catherine Beth Washburn, 37, is charged with attempting to provide material support to the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), an entity classified by the U.S. government as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. A conviction could result in a federal prison sentence of up to 20 years and a $250,000 fine.
Allegations of Extremist Leadership and Ideology
According to the Justice Department, Washburn served as the leader of the Direct Action Movement for Palestinian Liberation (DAMPL), an extremist group that emerged after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.
The federal complaint outlines that DAMPL eschews peaceful demonstrations, instead advocating for
