Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• DOJ defends prosecution of James Comey over Instagram seashell post — The US Department of Justice filed court documents defending its prosecution of former FBI director James Comey, arguing that his May 2025 Instagram post featuring seashells arranged to read "8647" could reasonably be interpreted as a threat against President Trump. Prosecutors claimed there is "no serious dispute" that the image constituted a coded message meaning "kill" or "get rid of" the president. Comey was indicted in April 2026 on charges of making a threat against the US president and transmitting it across state lines. Comey's legal team argues the post is protected speech and seeks dismissal on grounds of vindictive and selective prosecution.

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• Trump DOJ appeals dismissal of charges against wrongfully deported Kilmar Ábrego García — The Trump administration's Department of Justice filed an appeal with the US Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals seeking to reinstate criminal human smuggling charges against Kilmar Ábrego García. A federal district judge had dismissed the charges in May, finding the prosecution "vindictive in nature" and tainted by statements from Attorney General Todd Blanche and other DOJ officials. The DOJ argues the charges were based on evidence and law, not retaliation, and claims the judge's dismissal represents an unwarranted intrusion into executive power.

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• DOJ arrests Heidi Beirich, far-right extremism expert, on financial crime charges related to SPLC — The Department of Justice arrested Heidi Beirich, a prominent expert on far-right extremism and former SPLC executive, charging her with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to submit false statements to a federally insured bank, and conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering. The charges are part of the government's broader case against the Southern Poverty Law Center, which the DOJ alleges laundered money through fictitious entities to protect informant identities in a now-ended program paying informants to infiltrate white supremacist groups. Beirich's attorney argues the prosecution is politically motivated retaliation against her decades of work combating hate groups.

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• DHS/ICE sought court orders to force-feed at least 10 hunger strikers in immigration detention — Between 2025 and 2026, Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials obtained court orders to subject at least 10 detained immigrants to involuntary medical procedures, including force-feeding via nasogastric tubes, intravenous forced hydration, and involuntary blood draws. Court records show procedures were definitely performed on at least three detainees and probably on two more; five others ended their hunger strikes before procedures began. Cases span facilities in Texas, Florida, Washington, and Arizona. Many detainees lacked legal representation during proceedings.
• ICE force-feeding of detained hunger strikers revealed in at least 10 cases — Since Trump's return to office in January 2025, Immigration and Customs Enforcement has subjected at least 10 detained immigrants to involuntary force-feeding procedures, including an Afghan man force-fed for nearly six months, a Ukrainian man whose force-feeding was stopped by legal intervention, and a Saudi woman who broke her strike under threat of the procedure. ICE obtained emergency court orders, often without the detainee's legal representation, to restrain hunger strikers and insert nasogastric tubes. Medical experts and human rights organizations characterize the practice as torture.
• ICE force-fed at least 10 detained hunger strikers — A Guardian investigation of court records identified at least 10 cases in which ICE sought to subject detained hunger strikers to involuntary medical procedures, with at least three and possibly five individuals force-fed. A Kurdish asylum seeker at Port Isabel Service Processing Center in Texas was force-fed for nearly eight months; another endured six months. The procedure involves guards restraining detainees while medical staff insert a tube through the nose into the stomach and pump liquid nutrition. Human rights organizations classify force-feeding of competent hunger strikers as torture.

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• FBI raid of Ohio Organizing Collaborative, voting rights group — FBI agents raided the Cleveland office of the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, a grassroots voter registration organization, seizing computers and phones. Agents also visited homes of affiliated individuals throughout Ohio and conducted interviews. The raid appeared to examine accusations related to the 2024 election, though specifics were unclear. The action occurred amid a broader pattern of federal voter fraud investigations and came approximately one month after the acting attorney general's office instructed prosecutors to prioritize voter fraud cases.
• FBI raids voter registration organization office in Ohio — The FBI raided the office of a voter registration promotion group in Ohio and visited the homes of individuals associated with the organization.

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• DOJ opens criminal inquiry into E Jean Carroll for alleged perjury — The Trump administration's Department of Justice has opened a criminal investigation into E Jean Carroll, the writer who accused President Trump of sexual assault, examining whether she committed perjury in a 2022 deposition during civil lawsuits against him. Carroll had stated she received no outside financial support for her legal battles, but later disclosed that a non-profit funded by billionaire Reid Hoffman had paid some legal fees. A federal appeals court dismissed perjury claims in 2024. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has recused himself due to his prior representation of Trump in Carroll's civil case.
• DOJ launched criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll — The Justice Department launched a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the woman who successfully sued Donald Trump for sexual abuse and defamation. The reported focus is alleged perjury related to funding for her lawsuits against Trump. The investigation was characterized as naked retaliation and revictimization of a sexual assault survivor by the man who assaulted her, using federal law enforcement as a weapon.
• DOJ opens inquiry into Reid Hoffman entity that funded E. Jean Carroll's lawsuit against Trump — The Department of Justice, led by US Attorney Andrew Boutros (Northern District of Illinois), opened an investigation into American Future Republic, a nonprofit backed by LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman that helped fund E. Jean Carroll's defamation lawsuits against Donald Trump. Carroll is not the subject but the investigation focuses on potential money-laundering conspiracy and obstruction related to her 2022 deposition in which she stated she received no outside funding, later contradicted when Hoffman's support was disclosed. The investigation follows similar DOJ actions against other liberal-aligned nonprofits.
• Department of Justice launches criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll — The Department of Justice under President Trump initiated a criminal investigation into whether E. Jean Carroll, the journalist who successfully sued Trump for defamation and sexual assault, committed perjury in her testimony. Carroll had stated she was not being paid to launch the lawsuit; the investigation centers on whether this was false, given that billionaire Reid Hoffman later paid some of her legal fees and expenses.

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• Southern Poverty Law Center indicted on fraud and money laundering charges — The Southern Poverty Law Center, an Alabama-based non-profit focused on dismantling white supremacy, was indicted on May 7, 2026, on charges of conspiracy to launder money and commit fraud. The DOJ alleged the SPLC defrauded donors by using funds to pay informants inside white supremacist groups. The SPLC pleaded not guilty. Legal experts characterized the indictment as weak, noting that paying informants to dismantle extremist organizations is a standard law enforcement tactic.
• Southern Poverty Law Center pleads not guilty to federal fraud and money laundering charges — The Southern Poverty Law Center entered a not guilty plea on Thursday to an 11-count federal indictment alleging fraud and money laundering conspiracy. Prosecutors claim SPLC funneled over $3 million to confidential sources within extremist groups between 2014 and 2023, and lied to donors and banks about the use of funds. SPLC leadership denies the charges, stating the informant program successfully prevented threats and attacks. Legal experts have characterized the case as weak.

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• U.S. Attorney's Office (Northern District of Texas) subpoenas NYU Langone Health for transgender youth healthcare records — The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Northern District of Texas issued a subpoena on May 7, 2026, to NYU Langone Health, a major New York City hospital network, demanding information about minor patients who received gender-affirming care between 2020 and 2026, including names of medical providers involved. NYU Langone must notify affected patients and the New York Attorney General within 30 days before disclosing protected health information under state shield law. The subpoena is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to track and regulate gender-affirming care for minors nationwide.

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• Federal prosecutor issues subpoena for Fulton County poll worker contact information — Dan Bishop, interim US attorney for North Carolina's middle district, issued a subpoena in April 2026 demanding Fulton County provide rosters of 2020 election workers including names, positions, residential addresses, email addresses, and personal phone numbers. Fulton County filed a motion to quash the subpoena in Georgia federal court, arguing it constitutes politically motivated harassment, exceeds the statute of limitations, and will chill election worker participation. The subpoena directs submission to Bishop's office rather than a grand jury, bypassing standard legal protections.

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• Georgia attorney general announces new indictment against Cop City protesters amid gubernatorial campaign — Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced felony charges against three Cop City protesters (Katie Marie Kloth, Tyler John Norman, Hannah Kass) in Cobb County for alleged property damage and arson on May 12, 2022. The charges were filed weeks before the statute of limitations expired, four years after the alleged conduct. The defendants are already named in a separate 2023 RICO indictment in Fulton County that a judge dismissed in December; the state has appealed. Critics allege Carr timed the new indictment to boost his struggling gubernatorial campaign ahead of the May 19 primary.

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• Trump administration directs DOJ to pursue mass denaturalization cases against 384 foreign-born citizens — The Trump administration is directing the Department of Justice to pursue denaturalization cases against 384 foreign-born US citizens, with civil litigators in 39 regional offices assigned to file cases in coming weeks. A DOJ official characterized this as "the first wave" of a "White House initiative" to strip citizenship from naturalized Americans. Historically rare due to cost and manpower, denaturalization has been used to target political activists and immigrants on broad grounds including alleged "nexus to terrorism" or gang affiliation, with experts warning the criteria are overly broad.
• Justice Department assigns prosecutors to file denaturalization cases against 384 naturalized citizens — The Justice Department announced it is assigning civil litigators to file denaturalization cases against 384 naturalized citizens as part of an effort to pursue "the highest volume of denaturalization referrals in history." The cases will be distributed across dozens of U.S. attorney's offices nationwide. Denaturalization requires proving material fraud in the naturalization process before a federal judge.

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• DOJ applies FACE Act religious-freedom provision to prosecute church protest for first time — The Trump administration charged protesters and journalists under an unused provision of the 1994 Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act that prohibits interfering with religious freedom at places of worship. This marks the first use of that provision. Simultaneously, the administration has virtually stopped prosecuting under the FACE Act's original provisions protecting reproductive healthcare access and has pardoned nearly two dozen anti-abortion activists convicted under those provisions. Legal experts call the application to journalists "unprecedented" and "a really dramatic overcharge."

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• FBI investigated New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson over story on Kash Patel's girlfriend — The FBI opened an investigation into New York Times reporter Elizabeth Williamson in March 2026 following her February 28 article alleging that FBI Director Kash Patel used federal resources to provide protection and transportation for his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins. FBI agents searched databases for details about Williamson and suggested assessing whether her reporting violated federal stalking laws. Patel denied the investigation on Fox News, claiming the article posed a direct threat to his girlfriend. The Times' executive editor condemned the FBI's actions as unconstitutional and a violation of First Amendment rights.

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• DOJ unseals indictment charging 30 additional people in Minnesota church protest; 25 arrested — Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the Department of Justice unsealed an indictment charging 30 more people for their involvement in a January 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Federal agents arrested 25 of those charged on Friday, with Bondi stating "more to come." The total number charged in connection with the demonstration now stands at 39. The protest targeted a pastor allegedly serving as acting ICE field director. Bondi framed the prosecutions as defense of places of worship.

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• Independent journalist Brixton Hughes arrested in connection with Minnesota church protest — Brixton Hughes, identified as an independent journalist, was arrested on Friday morning in connection with the January 18 protest at Cities Church in St. Paul. Hughes posted on Facebook "Feds at my door" following the arrest. Hughes was among 25 people arrested as part of the DOJ's expanded prosecution of protest participants. Two other journalists, Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, were previously charged over the same protest, though they maintained they were covering it as reporters rather than participating.

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• DHS memo authorizes ICE detention of legal refugees for "rescreening" — The Department of Homeland Security issued a memo authorizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement to arrest and indefinitely detain legal refugees already admitted to the US who have not yet obtained permanent residence (green cards), subjecting them to intensive interviews and background checks while in custody. The policy reverses a 2010 Obama-era guidance and directly contradicts a federal judge's recent order blocking such arrests in Minnesota. The memo claims conditional admission and mandatory one-year review compel detention authority.

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• Federal magistrate judge previously rejected arrest warrant for Don Lemon — A federal magistrate judge took the unusual step of declining to sign off on an arrest warrant for Don Lemon, finding there was "no evidence" of criminal behavior in his journalistic work at the Minnesota church protest. The decision reportedly enraged Attorney General Pam Bondi. Despite this judicial rejection, the DOJ proceeded to arrest and charge Lemon anyway.
• Don Lemon Arrested for Violating FACE Act — Federal agents arrested independent journalist Don Lemon in Minneapolis, charging him with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and conspiring to hurt the exercise of rights. The charges stem from Lemon's filming of a protest at a church service. Previous attempts by federal prosecutors to charge him were blocked by a magistrate judge and a federal judge. The administration's actions are seen as an attempt to intimidate independent journalists and suppress coverage of federal authority.
• Don Lemon arrested; Trump had made 10 posts attacking him — Don Lemon was arrested. Deputy AG Todd Blanche claimed the president had "never even thought of Don Lemon" when asked if the arrest was intended to make an example of someone the president had sparred with. However, a search of Trump's Truth Social account revealed Trump made 10 nasty posts about Lemon over the past three years, with several recent posts calling him a "sleazebag."

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• Seizure of 2020 Ballots in Georgia — Ballots from the 2020 election in Georgia were seized, raising concerns about election integrity and the potential for undermining public trust in electoral processes. The seizure has been linked to ongoing disputes and investigations related to the 2020 election results. This action has prompted criticism from civil rights groups and calls for transparency in the handling of election materials.
• FBI executes search warrant on Fulton County Georgia elections facility — In early 2026, the FBI executed a search warrant on an elections facility in Fulton County, Georgia, and seized approximately 700 boxes of 2020 election records, including original ballots. Trump appeared to have advance knowledge of the raid and directed then-Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard to participate. After the raid, Trump personally thanked some of the agents involved. The raid was allegedly part of a criminal investigation into record retention violations but relied largely on debunked conspiracy theories.
• FBI raids Fulton County elections office and seizes 2020 election documents — FBI agents executed a criminal warrant at Fulton County's elections offices, seizing approximately 700 boxes of 2020 election documents. The raid was authorized by U.S. Attorney Thomas Albus (St. Louis-based), designated by the Trump administration as its point person on election integrity cases. Fulton County Commission Chair Robb Pitts reported receiving a warning call two days prior that he and other Georgia officials faced imminent arrest. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's presence at the raid raised questions about political interference and national security involvement.
• FBI Raids Election Office in Fulton County, Georgia — FBI agents executed a raid on an election office in Fulton County, Georgia, seizing 700 boxes of ballots and other election-related materials from the 2020 election. The warrant for the raid was issued by U.S. Attorney Thomas Albus, who was appointed by Trump and given special authority to operate across the nation. The involvement of the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, during the raid raised concerns about the politicization of law enforcement.

Supporting reports

• FBI Director Kash Patel launches investigation into Signal group chats used by protesters — FBI Director Kash Patel announced on January 26 that he launched an investigation into Signal group chats used by protesters in Minnesota to share information about federal immigration agents, including their locations and license plate numbers. The move targets legally obtained information and the act of recording law enforcement officials, both protected by the First Amendment.
• Justice Department appeals to Eighth Circuit after judge declines to issue arrest warrants for CNN anchor and protesters — Federal prosecutors sought Chief Judge Schiltz's assistance in arresting former CNN anchor Don Lemon and others linked to an anti-ICE church protest. After Schiltz declined to overturn a magistrate's denial of arrest warrants, the Justice Department appealed directly to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The circuit court rejected the government's request, prompting Schiltz to write letters criticizing the Justice Department's approach and highlighting the flood of "illegal" detention cases overwhelming Minnesota courts.
• FBI director announced investigation of Signal chats of Minneapolis observers — FBI Director Kash Patel told a right-wing podcaster that the FBI will investigate Signal chats of those organized in Minneapolis to observe and record federal agents, to determine if they endangered federal agents. Podcaster Benny Johnson suggested the chats were "coordinated infrastructure" and asked the FBI to "take a crack at trying to get rid of this infrastructure the way they approach the mob or cartels or other terrorist networks."
• TikTok suppresses anti-ICE videos following Oracle acquisition — Following TikTok's acquisition by an Oracle-led consortium in late January 2026, users reported inability to upload videos critical of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Law professor Stephen Vladeck reported his anti-ICE video remained "under review" for nine hours; comedian Megan Stalter and California State Sen. Scott Wiener also reported suppression. TikTok attributed the issue to a data center outage, but the timing coincided with Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison's known Trump loyalty, raising concerns about state influence over the platform's content moderation.
• Federal agents arrested journalist Don Lemon on FACE Act and civil rights conspiracy charges — More than two dozen federal agents arrested independent journalist Don Lemon late on January 29, charging him with violating the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act and conspiring to hurt the exercise of rights—a Reconstruction-era law originally used against the Ku Klux Klan. Lemon had filmed protesters disrupting a church service in St. Paul, Minnesota, on January 18 at a white nationalist church with ties to the Trump administration. A magistrate judge and federal judge had both refused to issue warrants; the administration then sought indictment via federal grand jury. Lemon stated he would plead not guilty and continue his journalism.
• Federal agents arrest Don Lemon and three journalists — On January 29, federal agents arrested Don Lemon and three other journalists in relation to their coverage of an anti-ICE protest inside a St. Paul, Minnesota church. Lemon has been charged with conspiring to deprive others of their civil rights and violating the FACE Act by allegedly obstructing access to a house of worship. The arrests come one week after a federal magistrate judge rejected the Justice Department's initial request to bring charges. Lemon's lawyer Abbe Lowell called the move an "unprecedented attack on the First Amendment" and a "transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration."
• Federal magistrate and district judge refused to issue arrest warrants for Don Lemon — A federal magistrate judge refused to issue a warrant for Don Lemon and his producer, stating prosecutors had not shown evidence justifying arrest. When the administration asked a federal judge to overturn that decision, the judge also refused, calling the request "unprecedented." The administration then escalated the case to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals, which also refused to intervene.
• DOJ charges Don Lemon and three others with civil rights crimes related to Minnesota church protest — The Department of Justice charged former CNN anchor Don Lemon and three others with federal civil rights crimes, alleging they interfered with religious freedom at a church in Minnesota earlier in January. Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles on Thursday while covering the Grammy Awards and released Friday. The charges also invoked the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. A federal magistrate judge had previously declined to sign an arrest warrant for Lemon, but the DOJ proceeded with charges anyway. The White House celebrated the arrest on social media.
• Don Lemon arrested on charges connected to Minnesota church protest — Ex-CNN anchor Don Lemon, 59, was arrested on charges related to a Minnesota church protest. Lemon, who was terminated by CNN in 2023 following allegations of problematic behavior toward female colleagues and controversial on-air remarks, has since worked as an independent journalist on YouTube. The arrest marks a significant development in his career trajectory following his departure from mainstream media.
• Federal agents arrest journalist Georgia Fort for covering ICE protest at Minnesota church — Georgia Fort, an independent Minnesota journalist, was arrested at her home on January 30 after covering a January 18 protest at St. Paul's Cities church, where a pastor reportedly works for ICE. Fort was charged alongside Don Lemon under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) and conspiracy statutes—charges experts call unprecedented against journalists. The DOJ pursued the case aggressively after a federal judge and appeals court initially refused to charge the journalists; a grand jury eventually secured an indictment. Fort livestreamed her arrest and has since been unable to cover related stories due to legal and safety concerns.
• Federal agents conduct search of Fort's home and question her children — When federal agents arrested Georgia Fort at her home on January 30, approximately two dozen agents remained outside for hours after her arrest. As Fort's family attempted to leave, agents stopped them in the driveway and questioned her children about whether they possessed her laptop or cellphone. Fort's daughters, aged 17, 8, and 7, were terrified by the encounter. The youngest daughter now discusses ICE daily; the oldest has experienced nightmares. Fort stated agents could have waited until children left for school and questioned why so many agents were needed to arrest a journalist.
• Journalist Don Lemon arrested by Trump administration after covering anti-ICE protest — Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested on January 30, 2026, by federal agents at a Los Angeles hotel while covering the Grammy Awards. The Trump administration obtained a federal grand jury indictment against Lemon, independent journalist Georgia Fort, and others on charges of conspiracy and interfering with worshippers' constitutional rights during an anti-immigration enforcement protest at a Minnesota church on January 18. A federal magistrate judge had previously refused to sign an arrest warrant for Lemon. On February 8, Lemon spoke publicly about the arrest, characterizing it as an attack on press freedom and warning that democracy becomes "hollow" when the First Amendment is threatened.
• Federal agents arrested journalist Georgia Fort and two protest participants — Federal agents arrested independent journalist Georgia Fort of Minnesota, along with two protest participants, Trahern Jeen Crews and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the January 18 church protest in St. Paul. All four people arrested in the past 24 hours are Black.
• Don Lemon arrested on federal civil rights charges — Former CNN anchor Don Lemon was arrested by federal authorities and charged with federal civil rights crimes in connection with a protest at a Minnesota church service earlier in January. The Department of Homeland Security stated Lemon was charged with conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshipers. His attorney Abbe Lowell stated Lemon's "constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done" and characterized the arrest as "an unprecedented attack on the first amendment." Career DOJ prosecutors in Minnesota and Louisiana refused to be involved in charging Lemon and other journalists who covered the Minneapolis church protests, believing the evidence does not support the charges.

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• Attorney General Bondi announced arrests of church protest organizers — Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the arrest of Nekima Levy Armstrong, whom she characterized as having "allegedly played a key role in organizing the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul." Bondi later announced a second arrest of Chauntyll Louisa Allen. Bondi stated the arrests were made "at my direction" and emphasized that the administration does not tolerate "attacks on places of worship."
• DOJ filed criminal complaints against church protest participants — The Department of Justice filed criminal complaints against seven protesters who entered St. Paul's Cities Church in Minnesota and interrupted a service. Arrests were made throughout the day. The DOJ also attempted to charge journalist Don Lemon, but a federal magistrate judge refused to sign the complaint, requiring the DOJ to pursue a grand jury indictment if it wishes to proceed against Lemon.
• Three arrested for anti-ICE protest at Minnesota church — Three people—Nekima Levy Armstrong, Chauntyll Louisa Allen, and William Kelly—were arrested on Thursday in connection with a protest at Cities church in St Paul, Minnesota on Sunday. Demonstrators had alleged that pastor David Easterwood was the acting field director of the St Paul ICE office. Armstrong was charged under a statute criminalizing conspiracy to block someone from exercising civil rights. The White House and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem celebrated the arrest on social media.

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• DOJ subpoenas Minnesota Democratic officials over immigration enforcement obstruction — The Trump Justice Department subpoenaed several Minnesota officials, including Democratic Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, as part of a federal investigation into whether they obstructed or impeded federal agents conducting a mass immigration crackdown through their public statements. Mayor Frey characterized the probe as a bullying tactic to suppress political opposition.
• Justice Department subpoenas Minnesota Democratic officials over immigration enforcement obstruction — Trump's Justice Department subpoenaed several Minnesota officials, including Democratic Governor Tim Walz, Attorney General Keith Ellison, and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, as part of a federal investigation into whether they obstructed or impeded federal agents conducting a mass immigration crackdown through their public statements. Mayor Frey characterized the probe as a bullying tactic to quash political opposition.
• Justice Department subpoenas Minnesota Democratic officials over alleged ICE obstruction — The U.S. Justice Department issued subpoenas to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, State Attorney General Keith Ellison, and other Democratic officials on January 21, 2026, as part of an investigation into whether they conspired to impede federal immigration enforcement. The subpoenas request documents on immigration policies, communications with state agencies, and materials related to "hindering, doxxing, identifying, or surveilling immigration officers." Legal experts have characterized the claim as flimsy, and officials have stated the investigation is politically motivated retaliation.
• Department of Justice subpoenas Minnesota Democratic leaders — The Department of Justice subpoenaed several prominent Minnesota Democrats, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, accusing them of conspiring to impede ICE operations. The subpoenas came in response to state and local officials' public condemnation of the federal deployment of thousands of ICE agents as an unconstitutional "federal invasion" and retaliatory campaign against civil liberties.
• DOJ issues subpoenas to Minnesota state and local officials investigating alleged obstruction of ICE enforcement — The U.S. Justice Department issued subpoenas to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, and other state and local elected officials this week as part of an investigation into whether they were conspiring to impede federal immigration enforcement. The action follows recent ICE operations in Minneapolis that have drawn criticism for detaining a five-year-old child and using gas against protesters. Governor Walz characterized the subpoenas as political retaliation rather than legitimate law enforcement.

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• Federal prosecutors resign in protest over DOJ's refusal to investigate ICE shooting — A wave of federal prosecutors in Minnesota and Washington DC resigned in protest over the Justice Department's decision not to hold a civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross. The resignations reflect internal dissent within the DOJ over the politicization of the civil rights division and the selective application of investigative standards based on the political alignment of the officer involved.

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• FBI assumes sole control of Minneapolis ICE shooting investigation, blocking state access to evidence — Following the shooting death of Renee Nicole Good by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis, the U.S. Attorney's Office reversed course and transferred the investigation solely to the FBI, removing the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) from the case and denying state investigators access to evidence, scene materials, and forensic findings. State and local officials, including Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, expressed alarm that the federal investigation cannot be fair given prior statements by Trump, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Vice President JD Vance prejudging the case and the agent's conduct.
• FBI limits cooperation with local law enforcement in ICE shooting investigation — The FBI has taken the unusual step of restricting cooperation with local Minneapolis law enforcement agencies regarding the investigation into Jonathan E Ross's shooting of Renee Nicole Good. This limitation prevents local authorities from accessing evidence needed to file potential criminal charges against the federal agent, effectively consolidating investigative control within federal authorities and reducing the possibility of independent accountability.
• Senator Smith questions legitimacy of Trump administration investigation — U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minnesota) publicly questioned the legitimacy of the Trump administration's investigation into the ICE shooting, citing the administration's strategy of excluding state investigators and controlling the narrative. She expressed concern that the public would not accept the federal government's version of events, particularly given video evidence contradicting official claims.
• Mayor Frey calls for state inclusion in federal ICE shooting investigation — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey publicly called on the Trump administration to include Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in the federal investigation of the ICE shooting. Frey criticized the administration for being "so quick to jump on a narrative as opposed to the truth," referencing Noem's premature "domestic terrorism" characterization. He stated the investigation must be conducted transparently and without predetermined conclusions.
• Minneapolis mayor requests state investigators be included in FBI inquiry into Good shooting — Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called on the FBI to include state officials in its investigation of the Renee Good shooting, criticizing the Trump administration's refusal to allow Minnesota state investigators to participate. Frey accused the administration of being "so quick to jump on a narrative as opposed to the truth," highlighting the lack of transparency and state-federal cooperation in the investigation.
• DHS deploys hundreds more federal agents to Minneapolis following Renee Good shooting — Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the deployment of "hundreds more" federal agents to Minneapolis as part of what DHS described as its largest enforcement operation to date, following the fatal shooting of Renee Good, a 37-year-old American citizen, by an ICE officer on Wednesday. The escalation occurred amid widespread protests across the US. Door-to-door raids began Sunday with heavily armed agents; some protesters were hit with chemical spray. Over 2,000 immigration arrests have been made in Minnesota since the operation began in early December.
• Secretary Noem asserts state prosecutors lack jurisdiction in ICE shooting investigation — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that state-level prosecutors "don't have any jurisdiction in this investigation" of the ICE shooting. This assertion blocked Minnesota state officials from participating in the inquiry, centralizing control of the investigation within the federal government despite local concerns about impartiality.
• FBI excludes Minnesota state investigators from Renee Good shooting investigation — The FBI and Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) initially agreed to conduct a joint investigation into Renee Good's death, standard procedure for officer-involved shootings. This agreement was quickly rescinded. The BCA lost "access to the case materials, scene evidence [and] investigative interviews necessary to complete a thorough and independent investigation." The FBI, run by Kash Patel—a Trump partisan who wrote children's books referring to Trump as a "king"—will lead the investigation exclusively. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison stated the federal government was undermining "a fair, transparent investigation" and that the FBI investigation "will look simply like a whitewash."
• Federal agents removed Renee Good's vehicle before state examination — Federal law enforcement removed Renee Good's vehicle from the crime scene before state investigators could examine it. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty revealed this removal. Good's car is a key piece of evidence because it could help definitively establish whether ICE agent Ross was struck in any way, making its removal before independent examination a critical loss of evidence integrity.
• Federal law enforcement selectively leaked evidence to partisan outlet — Since asserting control over the investigation, federal law enforcement selectively leaked evidence to ideologically friendly publications. A 47-second video of the incident was shared with Alpha News, a right-wing outlet in Minnesota, before being released by DHS the next day. Vice President Vance amplified the video. This selective leaking to partisan outlets undermines the integrity of the investigation and shapes public narrative through controlled information release.
• DOJ blocks state and local authorities from participating in FBI investigation of ICE shooting — The DOJ blocked state and local authorities from participating in the FBI's investigation into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis. Senior federal officials, including the president, had already characterized Good as a domestic terrorist who threatened the ICE officer's life and was shot in self-defense, foreclosing any genuine federal inquiry into the agent's conduct.

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• Attorney General issues memo directing prosecution of anti-ICE activism as domestic terrorism — On December 4, the U.S. Attorney General's office issued a memo to federal prosecutors directing them to prosecute conduct under domestic terrorism statutes, explicitly listing "opposition to immigration enforcement," "violent efforts to shut down immigration enforcement," and "extreme views in favor of mass migration and open borders" as potential terrorist ideologies. The memo also directs prosecution of "picketing or parading with intent to obstruct the administration of justice" and instructs federal law enforcement to share "Antifa" files with the FBI, effectively criminalizing protest and political opposition.
• Pam Bondi directs law enforcement to investigate antifa groups for tax crimes — US Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a memo to all law enforcement agencies and prosecutors instructing them to investigate antifa and other groups designated as domestic terrorists, with specific direction to search for tax crimes. The memo also ordered federal agencies to review files for antifa-related intelligence within 14 days and directed the FBI to compile a list of domestic terror groups. The action implements Trump's September executive order designating antifa as a domestic terrorism organization and signals efforts to revoke tax-exempt status of left-wing groups.

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• DOJ fired career prosecutors investigating Trump — The Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, fired dozens of career prosecutors who worked on cases investigating the former president. Bondi refused to answer questions about whether she was firing career professionals specifically because they worked on January 6 investigations or other Trump-related cases.
• Democratic senators denied access to ICE detention facility in Illinois — U.S. Senators Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth visited an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois on Friday, requesting a tour and attempting to deliver supplies to protesters, but were barred from entering. Both senators invoked their congressional oversight authority and expressed concern about undisclosed conditions inside the facility. Durbin stated he had never experienced such "stonewalling" from a presidential administration in his tenure.