Federal Agents Launched Spying Operation in Minnesota After Shooting
A new legal filing in Minnesota federal court has accused the U.S. government of initiating unwarranted investigations into several left-leaning organizations during protests against deadly immigration raids in the state last winter. The investigations, handled by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), included the deployment of undercover agents to infiltrate these groups. Notably, the operation commenced just four days after federal agents shot and killed protester Alex Pretti.
The agents reportedly monitored organizers and groups that communicated online, infiltrating platforms such as Signal chat groups. They also positioned themselves in public spaces where these groups convened, including parks, libraries, and churches. Among the organizations surveilled were unions, socialist collectives, and climate action groups.
The operation, referred to as "Operation Puppet Master" by federal authorities, was disclosed in a filing by defense attorney Kevin Riach, representing a member of Direct Action Minnesota (DAMN). In June, the Department of Justice indicted 15 individuals associated with DAMN for allegedly interfering with law enforcement, labeling the group as having ties to "antifa." The primary objective of DAMN was to inform local communities about the presence of federal immigration agents. The filing suggests that the Trump administration's claims link DAMN members to a broader conspiracy, justifying the surveillance.
None of the organizations connected to DAMN have faced criminal charges. The filing identifies several targeted groups, including the AFL-CIO, the Minneapolis Federation of Educators, and the Sunrise Movement, among others.
According to the filing, federal agents gathered information about Minnesotans through law enforcement databases and internet searches. Their actions extended beyond this, as they collected financial records from organizations using administrative subpoenas without any criminal basis. These subpoenas are managed internally by federal agencies rather than through court oversight.
The use of Clearview AI, a facial recognition software, was also noted, as it enabled the creation of photo dossiers of individuals under scrutiny. The filing alleges that the surveillance efforts were conducted under an order signed by Trump, which instructed agencies to target broadly defined left-leaning groups and individuals. Riach's filing emphasizes that the spying was primarily politically motivated, with requests for three years of financial records from many groups predating the protests against federal actions in the Twin Cities.
Riach's filing describes the allegations as "wild conspiracy theories" stemming from the political retribution fantasies of the Trump administration. It demands the release of additional documents, including all reports related to the surveillance of groups and individuals, Clearview AI reports, and internal communications regarding the operation.
In response to the revelations about the surveillance operation, Aru Shiney-Ajay, executive director of the Sunrise Movement, condemned the federal government's violations of privacy and rights to free speech and assembly. Shiney-Ajay stated, "While federal agents repeatedly broke the law, ordinary people exercised their First Amendment rights to protect their neighbors."
