14 Minnesota anti-ICE protesters plead not guilty to federal charges

MINNEAPOLIS — Fourteen Minnesota anti-ICE protesters pleaded not guilty Wednesday, July 1, to federal charges alleging they engaged in a conspiracy to impede or injure federal agents in Minneapolis during President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown earlier this year.

Four of the defendants are facing additional charges, including interstate stalking, assault on a federal officer and destruction of federal property. Federal prosecutors earlier this month charged 15 protesters alleging they were members of a group called “Direct Action Minnesota” or “DAMN.” One defendant didn’t appear in court Wednesday because he’s in custody in Michigan based on separate federal charges.

The 14 defendants appeared in the Minneapolis federal courtroom alongside their attorneys and individually entered their not guilty pleas.

U.S. District Judge David Schultz then asked the prosecution about the 20 terabytes of data federal prosecutors say they have in their possession.

Of the 20 terabytes, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Sommer Honeycutt said, about 16 are Signal chats, but not all of it pertains to the 15 defendants because more people may be charged in the future.

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The 94-page indictment issued last month details defendants’ coordination in blockading the Whipple Federal Building — where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is headquartered in Minnesota — by flipping a trailer and forming human chains across roadways. The conspiracy charges are based on pages of Signal messages in which defendants scheduled meetings, “shield” and “de-arrest” trainings and arranged to bring blockade materials to Whipple.

Among allegations against the group: posting inflammatory videos on Instagram calling on anti-ICE protesters to “get your f*cking guns and stop these f*cking people”; following a federal agent from the Whipple Building to Hudson, Wisconsin; kicking and denting a federal vehicle; “brake-checking” and “side-swiping” a federal officer on the road; and knocking an ICE agents’ notes out of his hand.

Contributed

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Nicole Neri|Minnesota Reformer

The prosecution asked the court to allow them to redact the names, addresses and social security numbers of all witnesses, law enforcement and unidentified co-conspirators from discovery evidence before handing it over to the defense. Schultz denied the prosecution’s motion because it was too “broad.” He also said he had concerns that the motion was filed without adequately consulting defense attorneys.

Schultz said he will give the prosecution and defense until July 10 to meet and further discuss whether any of the data should be redacted.

Outside the courthouse, about 100 people gathered to show support for the 15 people charged. They chanted “drop the charges,” and “protesting is not a crime.” Some also sat inside the courtroom to observe the hearing.

Prosecutors said the data in their possession consists of surveillance footage from drones; body-worn cameras; cameras on-site at federal property; 47,000 pages of written reports and photographs. And they are still waiting for more as the investigation is ongoing.

Schultz also said based on the indictment and his questioning of the prosecution, it’s likely some of the data in the government’s possession may have been obtained without a warrant.

“I’m inferring that not every bit of evidence was necessarily gathered pursuant to a warrant,” Schultz said.

Evidence obtained without a warrant is inadmissible in court, as it violates the Fourth Amendment.

Earlier this year, federal prosecutors dropped multiple cases with similar charges as the 15 Minnesota defendants face for lack of evidence and prosecutorial misconduct.

Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Minnesota Reformer maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor J. Patrick Coolican for questions: info@minnesotareformer.com.