The TWP is intimately allied with neo-Nazi and other hardline racist organizations and advocates for racially pure nations, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. Its leaders have praised Trump, and the group claimed to bring more than 100 people to the Charlottesville white supremacist rally, where a counter-protester was killed.

In one phone call with Doug McCormack, identified by police as the TWP affiliate who acquired the permit for the Sacramento rally, CHP investigator Donovan Ayres warned him that police might have to release his name in response to a public records requests. The officer said he would try to protect McCormack.

Im gonna suggest that we hold that or redact your name or something until this gets resolved, Ayres told McCormack, adding that he didnt know who had requested records of the permit and noting, If I did, I would tell you.

Ayress reports noted that McCormack was armed at the rally with a knife.

The officers write-up about an African American anti-fascist activist included a photo of him at the hospital after the rally and noted that he had been stabbed in the abdomen, chest and hand.

Ayres, however, treated the protester like a suspect in the investigation. The police investigator recommended the man be charged with 11 offenses, including disturbing the peace, conspiracy, assault, unlawful assembly and wearing a mask to evade police.

As evidence, Ayres provided Facebook photos of the man holding up his fist. The officer wrote that the mans Black Power salute and his support for anti-racist activism demonstrated his intent and motivation to violate the civil rights of the neo-Nazi group. He was ultimately not charged.

Ayress report also noted Felarcas political activism in great detail, referencing her activism on behalf of students of color and womens rights protests.

This is a textbook case of a political witch-hunt and selective prosecution, Shanta Driver, one of Felarcas attorneys, said in an interview.

Officers also worked with TWP member Derik Punneo to try to identify anti-fascist activists, recordings revealed. Officers interviewed Punneo in jail after he was arrested for an unrelated domestic violence charge. Audio recordings captured investigators saying they brought photos to show him, hoping he could help them identify anti-fascist activists.

The officers said, Were pretty much going after them, and assured him: Were looking at you as a victim.

Ayress report noted that Punneo was armed with a knife at the neo-Nazi rally and that one stabbing victim told officers he believed Punneo was responsible. Using video footage, Ayres also noted that Punneo was in the vicinity of another victim at the time he was injured, but the officer said the evidence ultimately wasnt clear.

Punneo and McCormack, who could not be reached for comment, were not charged. Ayress report included images and names of three other TWP-affiliated men who he said were armed with knives, but who also have faced no charges.

The CHP declined to comment.

In a response filed on Thursday, prosecutors said every assertion in the motion to dismiss is inaccurate or fabricated and accused Felarcas lawyers of using the filing to make a political statement. The response also repeatedly blamed the stabbing victims for ignoring the district attorneys inquiries: Despite the fact that we have not gained the cooperation of these victims, the investigation to hold their attackers responsible continues forward.

Prosecutors also said the charges were based on video evidence and argued that no one is beneath the protection of the law, no matter how repugnant his or her rhetoric or misguided his or her ideals.

Allegations of police bias and collusion with neo-Nazis have emerged in similar cases across the US. Last year, US prosecutors targeting anti-Trump protesters in Washington DC relied on video evidence from a far-right group with a record of deceptive tactics.

At an Oregon alt-right event, police allowed a member of a rightwing militia-style group to help officers arrest an anti-fascist activist.

Police in Charlottesville were widely accused of standing by as Nazis attacked protesters, and a black man who was badly beaten by white supremacists was later charged with a felony.

Sam Menefee-Libey, an activist who advocated for protesters charged for Inauguration Day rallies last year, said the government has repeatedly gone to great lengths to target anti-fascists: We have patterns of acknowledged and unacknowledged overlaps between the interest of ultra-right nationalist organizations and the police and prosecutors offices.