A review of the FBI's investigations of certain domestic advocacy groups

Our review focused on FBI investigative activities and documents related to the exercise of First Amendment rights, most commonly protest activities. In general, we addressed the following issues raised by the FBI documents relating to these groups: whether the FBI targeted groups or their members because of their First Amendment expressions rather than for a valid law enforcement purpose; whether investigations of the groups or individuals affiliated with them were adequately predicated under applicable Department of Justice (DOJ) or FBI policies; whether the FBI improperly collected or retained information about their First Amendment activities of the groups or their members; whether FBI documents contain improper characterizations of the groups of their members based on their First Amendment views; and, whether the FBI improperly classified investigative matters relating to these groups or individuals as terrorism matters.