Federal police showed up at the homes of three people who sat on Calgary city council last week and Alberta is paying attention.
RCMP executed search warrants at the residences of former mayor Jyoti Gondek, former Ward 4 councillor Sean Chu, and sitting Ward 10 councillor Andre Chabot. Phones and devices were seized from all three.
The investigation is being handled by RCMP's Federal Policing Northwest Region a specialized unit that handles sensitive cases involving politicians. The Calgary Police Service received the original complaint in October 2025 and referred it to the RCMP, a standard escalation when allegations involve elected officials.
What Each Person Has Said
Gondek served as Calgary's mayor from 2021 to 2025. She confirmed officers executed a warrant at her home and seized her phone.
"I have been fully co-operative and respect the legal process," she said in a written statement. "At the same time this has been very invasive and my lawyer and I will be reviewing it closely to ensure the search was justified."
Chabot still holds his Ward 10 seat on council. He spoke to reporters after the warrants became public, saying he was caught completely off guard when officers arrived at his door.
"I was asked to provide my devices for them to look at to gather evidence," he said. "That's about as much as I know. I was completely surprised."
Chabot said he was not questioned by investigators and does not believe he is the target of the probe. His defence lawyer, Alain Hepner, confirmed his representation and said his client "has nothing to hide and is fully co-operating with the authorities."
Chu did not speak publicly. His lawyer, Shamsher Kothari, issued a written statement: "My client has been co-operative throughout and respects the legal process. No charges have been laid and I look forward to a swift conclusion of this investigation."
What the Investigation Is Actually About
The RCMP has said very little. The force confirmed the investigation is active and stems from the October 2025 CPS referral, but declined to provide further details to protect the integrity of the probe.
What is known: warrants and production orders were executed on a local business in addition to the three residences. The business has not been publicly identified by RCMP.
The Mayor's Take With a Major Caveat
Mayor Jeromy Farkas told reporters he does not believe any current or former councillor is the target of the investigation.
"My understanding at this point is that no member of council past or present is the target of an investigation," Farkas said. "However, certain evidence that they may have in terms of text messages or emails they received are being submitted to the RCMP to support the investigation of a third party."
Farkas was clear: that assessment did not come from police. He has not been briefed by the RCMP and acknowledged his understanding is not sourced directly from investigators.
Why This Matters
A sitting councillor having their phone seized by federal police is not a routine event. The involvement of RCMP's Federal Policing unit rather than CPS continuing the investigation themselves signals the allegations are being treated with a level of seriousness reserved for cases where independence from local law enforcement matters.
No charges have been laid. The investigation is ongoing. Culture Alberta will update this story as new information becomes available from official sources.
Sources:
RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region (official statement confirming the investigation)
Calgary Police Service (official statement, spokesperson Emma Poole)
Jyoti Gondek (written statement)
Andre Chabot (on-record remarks to reporters)
Alain Hepner, defence counsel for Chabot (written statement)
Shamsher Kothari K.C., defence counsel for Chu (written statement)
Mayor Jeromy Farkas (on-record remarks to reporters, March 25, 2026)
