The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell S2 Ep142: The Epstein Files Are Being Buried by DOJ (w/ Asha Rangappa)
24 snips
Jan 21, 2026 
Asha Rangappa, a former FBI special agent and legal commentator, joins to unpack critical issues regarding DOJ and immigration enforcement. She discusses a federal injunction limiting ICE's aggressive tactics against protesters in Minnesota and highlights the court's skepticism of ICE's evidence. Asha also delves into the stalled release of the Epstein files, emphasizing the difficulties in enforcing compliance. The conversation extends to the politicization of law enforcement and the implications for civil liberties in today's landscape.
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General Warrants Resurging In Practice
- Asha warns ICE is operating like it's using a 'general warrant' by scanning crowds without individualized suspicion.
- She links such tactics to Fourth Amendment prohibitions against general warrants from the founding era.
FBI Guardrails Are Fraying
- DOJ appears to be weaponizing the FBI by opening probes into officials over protected First Amendment speech.
- Attorney General Guidelines historically barred investigations based solely on First Amendment activity, but enforcement seems weakened.
Prepare For Vexatious Investigations
- Public officials targeted by politicized probes should expect intimidation long before court review and hire counsel early.
- Litigation can help but won't stop intrusive investigative steps like subpoenas and surveillance immediately.
