Trump’s spying on left-wing groups recalls J Edgar Hoover’s Cointelpro | Ken Roth
Summary
The Trump administration investigated progressive groups protesting against its immigration deportation policies instead of investigating the violence used by federal agents. These groups were accused of criminal conspiracy and domestic terrorism financing, though protected by the First Amendment to protest lawfully.Key Facts
- In January, the Trump administration sent about 3,000 federal agents to Minnesota to enforce immigration deportations.
- Protesters, including progressive and mainstream groups, opposed these deportations and sometimes recorded the agents’ actions.
- Instead of investigating violence by federal agents, the administration launched “Operation Puppet Master” targeting protest groups.
- Federal officials claimed these groups helped “violent opportunists” and funded “domestic terrorism,” citing an expanded definition from Trump’s directive.
- Criminal conspiracy law requires proof that groups agreed to commit a crime and intended to obstruct federal officers by force; this claim is highly questionable here.
- Peaceful protest and monitoring of government actions are protected under the First Amendment.
- The Trump administration bypassed usual justice channels like the Department of Justice and FBI in this investigation.
- The article compares this crackdown to historical government surveillance programs on political activists.
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