In re petition for writ of mandamus of Colorado Public Radio
Case Name: In re petition for writ of mandamus of Colorado Public Radio
Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado
Client: Colorado Public Radio
Background: In January 2025, more than 100 local and federal law enforcement agents raided a makeshift nightclub in Denver, Colorado, in what the Drug Enforcement Administration said was part of an investigation into alleged drug trafficking by a Venezuelan gang. Authorities arrested 49 people during the raid, most of whom were in the country without authorization, according to the DEA. The next month, immigration and law enforcement officials conducted similar raids in apartment complexes in Denver and Aurora, Colorado. Authorities haven’t said how many people were detained during the two latter operations. To date, no federal charges have been filed in connection with the raids.
As Colorado Public Radio reported, all three raids were both highly publicized and “awash in official secrecy.”
In each case, the search warrant materials have been filed under seal, preventing the public from being able to evaluate whether the warrants were issued and executed in compliance with the Fourth Amendment, and whether observed and reported federal law enforcement activity exceeded the scope of the activities authorized by the underlying warrants.
On behalf of CPR, Rachael Johnson, the Reporters Committee’s Local Legal Initiative attorney for Colorado, petitioned the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado to order the unsealing of the warrant materials connected to the three raids, arguing that the public has a presumptive right of access to the records under local criminal rules and common law.
Quote: “The public has a right to know the government’s justification for these large-scale law enforcement raids,” Johnson said. “Without access to the search warrant materials, the community is left guessing about the reasoning behind the raids.”
Filings: