Minnesota Independent

McCain’s RNC heckler mounts GOP campaign for Congress

By David Weigel | 12.18.09 | 10:30 am

Just as Sen. John McCain was beginning his acceptance speech inside the Xcel Energy Center at the 2008 Republican National Convention, Adam Kokesh unrolled a banner that read, “MCCAIN VOTES AGAINST VETS.” Before he was removed from the site, the Marine and Iraq Vets Against the War leader shouted, “Ask McCain why he votes against veterans!” Today, Kokesh’s relationship to the GOP is quite different: he’s the party’s front-runner for Congress in a Ron Paul-inspired race in New Mexico.

RNC Eight FBI informant found guilty on three criminal charges

By Paul Demko | 03.23.09 | 6:55 pm

Andrew Clark Darst, a key informant in the conspiracy case pending against the RNC Eight, has been found guilty of three criminal counts related to a January altercation in Minnetrista. Hennepin County District Court Judge Daniel Mabley ruled today that Darst is guilty of a gross misdemeanor charge of damage to property, as well as two counts of misdemeanor assault. The 30-year-old Minnetrista resident was acquitted on two burglary counts.

RNC prosecutions: More cases dismissed for lack of evidence

By Paul Demko | 03.20.09 | 2:24 pm

The St. Paul city attorney’s office is not faring too well in prosecutions stemming from the Republican National Convention in September. Of 672 initial cases turned over for potential misdemeanor prosecution, roughly 85 percent have been dropped due to insufficient evidence. And none of the few cases that have made it to court have resulted in a conviction.

Texas RNC activist pleads guilty to making Molotov cocktails

By Paul Demko | 03.17.09 | 2:58 pm

David Guy McKay pleaded guilty this morning — again. The Austin, Texas–based activist acknowledged producing eight Molotov cocktails and conspiring to violently disrupt the Republican National Convention in September. McKay initially attempted to plead guilty to the three felony counts Monday, but his admission of guilt was rejected by U.S. District Court Judge Michael Davis. The reason? McKay continued to insist that a government informant, Brandon Darby, was partly responsible for producing the incendiary devices.

RNC Eight informant faces criminal charges

By Paul Demko | 03.16.09 | 9:23 pm

Andrew Clark Darst was a key FBI informant in building a case that eight activists criminally conspired to disrupt the Republican National Convention. But criminal charges subsequently filed against Darst have raised questions about his credibility.

Lawsuits filed alleging police misconduct around the RNC

By Paul Demko | 02.27.09 | 5:46 pm

Let the litigation begin. Eight lawsuits have been filed in U.S. District Court claiming civil rights abuses by police officers during events surrounding the Republican National Convention in September. The civil suits accuse officers of physical and sexual abuse, illegal searches and seizure of property, and wrongful detainment. Says one of the lawyers handling the cases, “This is just the beginning.”

FBI vet Rowley rips RNC report, readies WAMM complaints, pursues police data

By Chris Steller | 02.23.09 | 1:58 pm

FBI whistleblower-turned-activist Coleen Rowley is on a roll. She rips into the City of St. Paul’s report on Republican National Convention law enforcement in a new commentary column, and Tuesday she will join others from Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) in filing formal complaints with Ramsey County Sheriff Bob Fletcher over RNC policing tactics. And Rowley’s inquiries into what she suspects was overbroad surveillance during the RNC are starting to bear fruit — of a sort.

RNC8 protester court hearings start this week

By Chris Steller | 02.23.09 | 10:22 am

Court dates arrive this week for the eight Republican National Convention protesters who were preemptively charged with terrorism felonies, according to the support group Defend the RNC8. The motion hearings — postponed due to a judge switch — find the…

RNC aftermath: No charges from 323 arrests on final day

By Paul Demko | 02.20.09 | 4:11 pm

Charges will not be filed against 323 people who were arrested on the Marion Street and Cedar Street bridges during the fourth day of the Republican National Convention, the St. Paul city attorney’s office announced today. Local civil rights activists say the failure to press charges is the latest evidence that many RNC arrests were frivolous.

What a riot: Outside panel presents mild critique of RNC policing

By Paul Demko | 01.14.09 | 8:34 pm

Nearly 800 people were arrested. Pepper spray, flash-bang grenades and tear gas were repeatedly used to disperse crowds. Store-front windows were smashed and vehicle tires slashed. If nothing else, the four days of the Republican National Convention certainly succeeded in bringing some excitement to normally sleepy streets of downtown St. Paul. Today, before a sometimes rambunctious crowd, a seven-member panel led by former U.S. Attorney Tom Heffelfinger and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Andy Luger presented an 82-page report on policing during the Republican National Convention to the St. Paul City Council.