Malcolm X’s family sues NYPD, FBI and CIA over assassination in $100 million lawsuit

NEW YORK — Malcolm X’s family is suing the NYPD and federal government agencies over the civil rights leader’s assassination in New York City.

The $100 million lawsuit claims the New York City Police Department, FBI, CIA, Department of Justice and U.S. government played a role in Malcolm X’s murder at the Audubon Ballroom in Washington Heights in 1965.

Government “conspired to assassinate Malcolm X,” attorney says

Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family, said they believe the government agencies “all conspired to assassinate Malcolm X.” 

The allegations include:

1. Failing to safeguard despite imminent threats
2. Removing security the night of the assassination
3. Actively encouraging and facilitating the assassination
4. On-duty operatives failing to intervene
5. A concealment effort, or cover-up, after the fact

The complaint reads in part, “Despite knowing the gravity of the threats, the FBI failed to protect Malcolm X, instead actively compromising his safety by arresting his security team days before his assassination.

“We seek justice for the assassination of our father and that the truth will be recorded in history,” said Ilyasah Shabazz, Malcolm X’s daughter.

The NYPD and FBI declined to comment on the lawsuit. The New York City Law Department said it is “reviewing the case.” 

Witness alleges gunman was protected by law enforcement

No new evidence was presented Friday, but in July 2023, Crump introduced what he called a new witness to the assassination. Crump said the witness, in a signed affidavit, recalled seeing the gunman be protected by law enforcement in the moments after it happened.

“He said as he struggled to grab him from getting away, it was as if NYPD was trying to help him escape being captured,” Crump said.

Talmadge Hayer confessed to shooting Malcolm X, but two other convicted defendants, the late Thomas Johnson and Norman Butler, who changed his name to Muhammad Aziz, maintained their innocence. They were exonerated in 2021.

Aziz, now in his 80s, spent 20 years in prison and was interviewed as part of the Netflix series “Who Killed Malcolm X?”

“If I wanted to do it, I couldn’t have done it, so that means they knew what they were doing when they put me in jail,” he said.

“Those men went to prison, wrongfully, and all those undercover agents knew,” Crump said Friday.