A trio of conservative and libertarian-leaning groups have asked a federal judge to force the disclosure of confidential files about undercover agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement infiltrating left-wing protest groups in Minneapolis.
asserted
trio → lean → Minneapolis
The Cato Institute, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and the Society for the Rule of Law filed a friend-of-the-court brief on Tuesday arguing that the Trump administration illegally targeted protesters based on their ideology.
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administration → file → ideology
A wide-ranging ICE investigation in the Twin Cities resulted in the June indictment of the protesters, widely known as the Minneapolis 15, for allegedly using criminal methods to try to block the administration’s crackdown on immigrants.
uncertain
investigation → range → immigrants
The defendants were “members and associates” of Direct Action Minnesota, a protest group that used aggressive actions to disrupt the crackdown, according to the indictment.
Yet a court filing from the defense earlier this month revealed that ICE sent undercover agents to spy on a much broader array of groups, including mainstream organizations such as local labor unions and the youth-led Sunrise Movement.
uncertain
ICE → use → unions
The defendants filed a motion asking the judge overseeing the case to force the disclosure of even more files, alleging that they will show that the government illegally targeted left-wing protesters for their politics rather than their alleged crimes.
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government → file → crimes
On Tuesday, the right and libertarian-leaning groups came to the left-wing protesters’ aid with the friend-of-the-court brief.
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groups → lean → brief
The groups, which are represented by the legal nonprofit Protect Democracy, argue that the facts revealed so far support the defendants’ claims.
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facts → represent → claims
The groups pointed out that some of the government’s own files say the origins of the investigation into left-wing protesters lies in a memo that President Donald Trump issued after the assassination of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
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Trump → point → Kirk
Known as National Security Presidential Memorandum 7, or NSPM-7, the memo called for a crackdown on groups espousing “anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity,” accusing the groups of terrorism and political violence.
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memo → know → terrorism
“The limited public disclosures here confirm the investigation for this case originated under NSPM-7,” the groups said.
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groups → confirm → NSPM-7
“Those disclosures also indicate the investigation was part of a larger strategy to target those who espoused views opposed to immigration enforcement and engaged in associational activity disfavored by the government.
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who → indicate → government
NSPM-7 effectively uses the domestic terrorism label to justify criminal investigations into disfavored groups that would not otherwise be targeted.”
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that → use → groups
U.S. Magistrate Judge David Schultz is set to consider the defendants’ request to force the government to hand over more confidential files at a court hearing on Thursday.
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Schultz → set → Thursday
Federal prosecutors filed a motion opposing the release of more files last week, arguing that they have already turned over more evidence than legally required and the defendants have not met the high legal burden of showing that they were the targets of selective prosecution.
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they → file → prosecution
Prosecutors argued that the actions of alleged members of Direct Action Minnesota, or DAMN, who are accused of blockading a federal building and tailing federal agents to their homes, were a far cry from the thousands of “peaceful” protesters who took to the streets earlier this year after the killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.
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who → argue → Good
“In this case, the defendants actively conspired to shut down a federal facility and they were successful on at least two occasions,” prosecutors said.
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prosecutors → conspire → occasions
“In fact, DAMN members were openly hostile and critical of individuals who advocated for peaceful, nonviolent protests.”
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who → advocate → protests
IT’S EVEN WORSE THAN WE THOUGHT.
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WE → ’ → ?
What we’re seeing right now from Donald Trump is a full-on authoritarian takeover of the U.S. government.
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seeing → see → government
Court orders are being ignored.
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orders → ignore → ?
MAGA loyalists have been put in charge of the military and federal law enforcement agencies.
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loyalists → put → military
The Department of Government Efficiency has stripped Congress of its power of the purse.
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Department → strip → purse
News outlets that challenge Trump have been banished or put under investigation.
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that → challenge → investigation
Yet far too many are still covering Trump’s assault on democracy like politics as usual, with flattering headlines describing Trump as “unconventional,” “testing the boundaries,” and “aggressively flexing power.”
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many → cover → power
The Intercept has long covered authoritarian governments, billionaire oligarchs, and backsliding democracies around the world.
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Intercept → cover → world
We understand the challenge we face in Trump and the vital importance of press freedom in defending democracy.
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we → understand → democracy
We’re independent of corporate interests.
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We → ’re → interests
Will you help us?
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you → help → us
We have a president with utter contempt for truth aggressively using the government’s full powers to dismantle the free press.
asserted
president → have → press
Corporate news outlets have cowered, becoming accessories in Trump’s project to create a post-truth America.
asserted
outlets → cower → America
Right-wing billionaires have pounced, buying up media organizations and rebuilding the information environment to their liking.
asserted
billionaires → pounce → liking
In this most perilous moment for democracy, The Intercept is fighting back.
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Intercept → fight → democracy
But to do so effectively, we need to grow.
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we → do → ?
That’s where you come in.
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you → ’ → ?
Will you help us expand our reporting capacity in time to hit the ground running in 2026?
asserted
us → help → 2026
We’re independent of corporate interests.
asserted
We → ’re → interests
Will you help us?
asserted
you → help → us
We have a president with utter contempt for truth aggressively using the government’s full powers to dismantle the free press.
asserted
president → have → press
Corporate news outlets have cowered, becoming accessories in Trump’s project to create a post-truth America.
asserted
outlets → cower → America
Right-wing billionaires have pounced, buying up media organizations and rebuilding the information environment to their liking.
asserted
billionaires → pounce → liking
…and 13 more, not listed.
The Aporia
