Minnesota man charged in ICE protest case pleads not guilty
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One of the 15 people charged with threatening ICE agents in Minnesota pleaded not guilty Monday.
Kyle Wagner entered the plea during a brief hearing in federal court in Minneapolis.
All 15 people charged for interfering with federal immigration agents during the federal enforcement operation earlier this year have now pleaded not guilty. The other fourteen defendants appeared in court earlier this month.
The indictment accuses Wagner and the other defendants of tracking ICE agents and coordinating blockades at the Whipple federal building via messages on the Signal app. The charges also cite alleged social media posts by Wagner calling on ICE protesters to arm themselves.
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Wagner had a different court date because he currently faces similar charges in Michigan and was in custody there during the recent hearing for the other 14 defendants. Wagner was charged in February with cyberstalking and doxxing an ICE supporter who lives in Michigan. He was arrested at his home in Minneapolis in February on those charges.
Wagner is currently in custody in Minnesota, as a Michigan court weighs whether to keep him in custody there. A judge ordered Wagner released, but prosecutors appealed that order. Wagner’s attorney said Monday that he’s awaiting a final order on detention in the case from the sixth circuit court of appeals.
A federal judge said Monday that he’ll remain in custody in Minnesota while awaiting that ruling from Michigan.
Supporters and defense attorneys for the 15 people indicted have disputed the charges and said they were based on political retribution — not on violations of the law.
