Malcolm X’s daughter sues NYPD, FBI and CIA over father’s murder

Malcolm X’s daughter announced Tuesday – on the 58th anniversary of her father’s assassination – that she plans to sue the CIA, FBI and NYPD for allegedly hiding evidence related to the murder.

Ilyas Shabaz has filed a notice of intent to sue federal and New York agencies for $100 million in damages “for alleged murder and fraudulently covering up evidence related to the murder of Malcolm X,” her attorney, Ben Crump, said.

“Our family has been fighting for years to uncover the truth about his murder,” Shabazz said at a press conference with her lawyers on Tuesday.

The announcement was made at the Washington Heights civil rights leader’s memorial, the site of his assassination on February 21, 1965, during a speech at the Audubon Ballroom.

Two men wrongfully convicted of murder and spent decades in prison were exonerated in 2021 after the Manhattan District Attorney’s office reopened an investigation.

Crump said government agencies held and suppressed evidence that could exonerate those who were exonerated.

“This is not only about the curators, but also about those who colluded with the curators to commit this dastardly act,” Crump told reporters.

The notice of claims — a legal precursor to lawsuits against certain government agencies — alleges that the city and the feds “conspired with each other and with others and did and did not act in ways that caused the wrongful death of Malcolm X.”

City and federal officials “fraudulently concealed direct evidence and exculpatory evidence that they conspired and carried out their plan to assassinate Malcolm X,” the newspapers said.

As a result of law enforcement’s gross negligence, “Malcolm X was deprived of his life and liberty” and Shabazz “had his father taken away,” the legal notices say.

Crump said that in connection with the planned trial, he hopes to get testimony from government officials.

In November 2021, Muhammad Aziz and the late Khalil Islam were exonerated after a case review revealed that important evidence was withheld at their trial.

In July, Aziz, 84, filed a $40 million federal lawsuit against the Big Apple after the Manhattan District Attorney’s office found that the FBI and NYPD withheld evidence that would likely have led to his acquittal.

The NYPD said they would “refuse to comment on the pending lawsuit.”

The CIA and FBI did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday.

Additional report by Tina Moore