Chris Vanderveen
@chrisvanderveen.bsky.social
Investigative reporter/Director of Special Projects at 9News/KUSA-TV in Denver. du-Pont/Peabody/IRE/Scripps Howard winner
Very interested in sharing the work of journalists here. And following as many journalists as I can.
Very interested in sharing the work of journalists here. And following as many journalists as I can.
footnote
ICE told us yesterday it had taken into custody not 100+ TDA members...
The actual total is 1% of that
Oh, and that DEA led raid a few weeks ago that busted "50 TDA members".
Well... there are some problems with that story too
t.co/al9b6o00qI
ICE told us yesterday it had taken into custody not 100+ TDA members...
The actual total is 1% of that
Oh, and that DEA led raid a few weeks ago that busted "50 TDA members".
Well... there are some problems with that story too
t.co/al9b6o00qI
https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/no-criminal-charges-filed-dea-raid-adams-county/73-ab6ff57d-fb62-4264-8e49-c9ffe0f5ac9d
t.co
February 7, 2025 at 4:40 AM
footnote
ICE told us yesterday it had taken into custody not 100+ TDA members...
The actual total is 1% of that
Oh, and that DEA led raid a few weeks ago that busted "50 TDA members".
Well... there are some problems with that story too
t.co/al9b6o00qI
ICE told us yesterday it had taken into custody not 100+ TDA members...
The actual total is 1% of that
Oh, and that DEA led raid a few weeks ago that busted "50 TDA members".
Well... there are some problems with that story too
t.co/al9b6o00qI
To be clear... I have no problem with FOX going on a ride along. They're free to do whatever they want.
But I do want to clear up some misconceptions about how this all went down
It was loud. It was large. And it was OBVIOUS. To anyone paying attention. No leak needed.
10/10
But I do want to clear up some misconceptions about how this all went down
It was loud. It was large. And it was OBVIOUS. To anyone paying attention. No leak needed.
10/10
February 7, 2025 at 4:39 AM
To be clear... I have no problem with FOX going on a ride along. They're free to do whatever they want.
But I do want to clear up some misconceptions about how this all went down
It was loud. It was large. And it was OBVIOUS. To anyone paying attention. No leak needed.
10/10
But I do want to clear up some misconceptions about how this all went down
It was loud. It was large. And it was OBVIOUS. To anyone paying attention. No leak needed.
10/10
Might I offer a suggestion for those probing the origins of the leak. I even have a date and location
October 11, 2024. Aurora, CO
I'll give you one guess as to who leaked... err... said this.
9/
October 11, 2024. Aurora, CO
I'll give you one guess as to who leaked... err... said this.
9/
February 7, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Might I offer a suggestion for those probing the origins of the leak. I even have a date and location
October 11, 2024. Aurora, CO
I'll give you one guess as to who leaked... err... said this.
9/
October 11, 2024. Aurora, CO
I'll give you one guess as to who leaked... err... said this.
9/
This becomes topical because Tom Homan is already suggesting there needs to be an investigation of local Denver journalists for leaking information prior to the raids
8/
t.co/GWVPz6u360
8/
t.co/GWVPz6u360
https://www.foxnews.com/media/trump-border-czar-tom-homan-vows-probe-leak-stifled-ice-raid-targeting-venezuelan-gang-colorado
t.co
February 7, 2025 at 4:39 AM
This becomes topical because Tom Homan is already suggesting there needs to be an investigation of local Denver journalists for leaking information prior to the raids
8/
t.co/GWVPz6u360
8/
t.co/GWVPz6u360
So... when the FOX crew showed up with a team in Thornton, for example, and saw us there at yet another staging location, we were simply doing what journalists do
We were literally following the story
Keep in mind, the ICE presence was OBVIOUS to anyone nearby too
7/
We were literally following the story
Keep in mind, the ICE presence was OBVIOUS to anyone nearby too
7/
February 7, 2025 at 4:39 AM
So... when the FOX crew showed up with a team in Thornton, for example, and saw us there at yet another staging location, we were simply doing what journalists do
We were literally following the story
Keep in mind, the ICE presence was OBVIOUS to anyone nearby too
7/
We were literally following the story
Keep in mind, the ICE presence was OBVIOUS to anyone nearby too
7/
A number of our crews went to these staging areas and then -- mostly this is because it's what journalists do -- they followed the teams when they went out on the raids.
They did so not knowing where the teams were going. We had no idea. But they followed nonetheless
6/
They did so not knowing where the teams were going. We had no idea. But they followed nonetheless
6/
February 7, 2025 at 4:39 AM
A number of our crews went to these staging areas and then -- mostly this is because it's what journalists do -- they followed the teams when they went out on the raids.
They did so not knowing where the teams were going. We had no idea. But they followed nonetheless
6/
They did so not knowing where the teams were going. We had no idea. But they followed nonetheless
6/
As a local news operation, it's routine for various people to tell us, for example, when a boatload of federal agents are amassing in a parking lot
In addition, ICE agents weren't exactly trying to NOT let the public know they were around
5/
In addition, ICE agents weren't exactly trying to NOT let the public know they were around
5/
February 7, 2025 at 4:39 AM
As a local news operation, it's routine for various people to tell us, for example, when a boatload of federal agents are amassing in a parking lot
In addition, ICE agents weren't exactly trying to NOT let the public know they were around
5/
In addition, ICE agents weren't exactly trying to NOT let the public know they were around
5/
Yesterday's operations involved LARGE numbers of people and equipment.
Starting at around 6am yesterday, it became obvious that ICE/feds were staging both at various locations prior to going in for the raids.
It's hard to keep secret this kind of equipment, right?
4/
Starting at around 6am yesterday, it became obvious that ICE/feds were staging both at various locations prior to going in for the raids.
It's hard to keep secret this kind of equipment, right?
4/
February 7, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Yesterday's operations involved LARGE numbers of people and equipment.
Starting at around 6am yesterday, it became obvious that ICE/feds were staging both at various locations prior to going in for the raids.
It's hard to keep secret this kind of equipment, right?
4/
Starting at around 6am yesterday, it became obvious that ICE/feds were staging both at various locations prior to going in for the raids.
It's hard to keep secret this kind of equipment, right?
4/
The low number of arrests has led some to imply that the migrants had to be tipped off...
The embedded Fox crew, for example, seemed to be surprised to see a @9news crew already at a raid location when they arrived in Thornton.
Let's talk about this for a moment
3/
The embedded Fox crew, for example, seemed to be surprised to see a @9news crew already at a raid location when they arrived in Thornton.
Let's talk about this for a moment
3/
February 7, 2025 at 4:39 AM
The low number of arrests has led some to imply that the migrants had to be tipped off...
The embedded Fox crew, for example, seemed to be surprised to see a @9news crew already at a raid location when they arrived in Thornton.
Let's talk about this for a moment
3/
The embedded Fox crew, for example, seemed to be surprised to see a @9news crew already at a raid location when they arrived in Thornton.
Let's talk about this for a moment
3/
Later this morning, reporter @BillMelugin_ reported what ICE, for some inexplicable reason, has only shared with him (and his crew that was embedded with ICE yesterday)
He reported 30 arrests. Only ONE TDA member
This makes sense based upon what our crews saw yesterday
2/
He reported 30 arrests. Only ONE TDA member
This makes sense based upon what our crews saw yesterday
2/
February 7, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Later this morning, reporter @BillMelugin_ reported what ICE, for some inexplicable reason, has only shared with him (and his crew that was embedded with ICE yesterday)
He reported 30 arrests. Only ONE TDA member
This makes sense based upon what our crews saw yesterday
2/
He reported 30 arrests. Only ONE TDA member
This makes sense based upon what our crews saw yesterday
2/