The Illegal News with Sarah Longwell S2 Ep142: The Epstein Files Are Being Buried by DOJ (w/ Asha Rangappa)
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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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Court Limits ICE Use Of Force
- A federal judge enjoined ICE from using force and retaliatory tactics against peaceful, unobstructive protesters in Minnesota.
- The court found protesters' accounts more credible and refused to grant ICE the usual presumption of regularity.
Stops Vs. Arrests: Legal Thresholds
- Reasonable suspicion allows stops but not arrests; probable cause is required to take someone into custody.
- The judge found ICE lacked even reasonable suspicion when stopping and detaining bystanders and journalists.
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.
