Homeland Security Subpoenaed Union Bank Records and Infiltrated Signal Chats in Minnesota — No Group Was Charged

Court documents released this week show that four days after Border Patrol agents fatally shot Alex Pretti in late January, the Department of Homeland Security opened an investigation out of its St. Paul office into left-leaning organizations rather than the shooting. The New York Times reported Aug. 13 that investigators used administrative subpoenas to obtain three years of financial records from the Sunrise Movement and the Communications Workers of America, and reviewed wire transfers by the Service Employees International Union under what they termed "domestic terrorist financing." Undercover agents attended meetings in libraries, parks and churches, recorded names and license plate numbers, and joined Signal group chats.

The inquiry reached groups never accused of a crime. Prosecutors showed grand jurors a slide asserting that 18 organizations, including the AFL-CIO, were part of a conspiracy to impede immigration officers — testing the line between investigating crime and monitoring protected political activity.

None of the organizations have been charged. The investigation, called Operation Puppet Master, led in June to the indictment of 15 people accused of interfering with federal agents. The disclosures came in a defense motion in Minnesota federal court. DHS did not respond to a request for comment.