Unearthed Emails Reveal How Progressive Prosecutors Outsource Justice to Secretive Wren Collective
A shadowy consulting firm is quietly pulling the strings behind some of America’s most controversial criminal justice reforms. Newly uncovered emails show the Wren Collective, a low-profile group backed by liberal donors, drafting policies and shaping communications for dozens of progressive district attorneys—often without billing, publicity, or public oversight.
This “influence-peddling operation,” as critics call it, raises alarms about transparency in elected offices, potentially sidelining voters in favor of unelected experts.
The Wren Collective: A For-Profit Power Broker in Progressive Prosecutions
Founded in 2020 by Texas attorney Jessica Brand, the Wren Collective positions itself as a team of policy and legal experts dedicated to “design, promote, and defend policies and practices grounded in evidence and compassion.” The for-profit firm has embedded staff in at least 40 DA offices across 22 states since 2015, according to a bombshell report from the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund (LELDF) titled “Outsourcing Justice.”
The report, based on over 50,000 pages of emails and texts obtained via Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, exposes how Wren provides everything from model policies to media prep—free of charge and under the radar. “These policies will be yours, not ours,” one email assured a DA-elect, ensuring the firm’s fingerprints stay hidden.
Wren’s ties trace back to high-profile “hatchlings” like former San Francisco DA Chesa Boudin and Los Angeles DA George Gascón, both Soros-funded progressives ousted amid backlash over crime spikes. The firm aims to “replace ineffective and often disingenuous solutions to crime and safety with solutions that support victims,” but detractors argue it prioritizes ideology over local needs.
Key Examples: Emails Expose Policy Drafting and Crisis Management
FOIA documents paint a picture of Wren as an invisible hand guiding DA decisions. In June 2020, a Wren attorney emailed Multnomah County (Portland) DA-elect Mike Schmidt with ready-made policies on abolishing bail, reducing jail populations, and more—originally crafted for Virginia prosecutors. The package covered 11 areas, including diversion programs, plea guidelines, fines and fees, prosecutions related to policing, Brady lists for officer misconduct, and juvenile transfers. Assistance came “without any billing or publicity,” allowing Schmidt to unveil them as his own.
In Loudoun County, Virginia, former Commonwealth Attorney Buta Biberaj—another Soros-backed DA—turned to Wren during a 2021 sexual assault scandal. After a judge questioned her impartiality in a high-profile case involving parent Scott Smith, a Wren staffer emailed on September 19, 2022: “I hope you’re doing okay. We saw the news around the Scott Smith case and were wondering if you would like some communication support? Please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you at this time.” Biberaj agreed, and Wren helped craft her response strategy. She lost re-election in 2023 to Republican Bob Anderson amid criticism of her “soft-on-crime” stance.
Travis County, Texas, DA Jose Garza signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Wren in 2022, locking in a year of policy and communications support. The NDA, inked by Brand and Garza’s deputy, barred Wren from disclosing details without permission. Emails later showed Brand prepping Garza for a CNN interview. Garza, facing backlash for policies seen as anti-police, has been accused of waging a “war on cops.”
These cases illustrate Wren’s role in outsourcing core functions—policy creation and crisis comms—to a firm with no public accountability.
The No-Billing, No-Publicity Model: A Veil of Secrecy
Wren’s operations thrive on anonymity. The Portland email explicitly promised “no billing or publicity,” while the Garza NDA reinforced confidentiality: “Any information or materials involved in the professional engagement between these parties is confidential.” This setup, per the LELDF report, lets the firm wield influence without financial trails or voter scrutiny, potentially amplifying donors like George Soros, whose PACs backed many of these DAs.
The firm’s for-profit status adds intrigue—how does it sustain without billing? Critics speculate donor funding or ideological alignment keeps it afloat, turning elected offices into extensions of a national progressive agenda.
Expert Opinions and Backlash: A Threat to Democratic Justice?
Legal experts decry the arrangement as undermining prosecutorial independence. “Prosecutors are elected to represent local communities, not outsource decisions to shadowy consultants,” said LELDF President Lou DeBono, whose group represents over 20,000 officers. The report warns Wren increases access for “well-connected activists,” sidelining voters and stakeholders.
Public reactions on X split sharply. Conservative users blasted it as “Soros puppets in action,” with one post garnering 5,000 likes: “Progressive DAs aren’t elected—they’re installed by consultants.” Progressive defenders argued Wren provides expertise for reform, countering “tough-on-crime” biases. Hashtags like #OutsourcingJustice trended, amplifying calls for FOIA transparency.
Progressive groups like the Brennan Center dismissed the report as a “smear,” but even some reformers acknowledged NDAs raise red flags for accountability.
Impacts on U.S. Readers: Crime Waves, Elections, and Everyday Safety
For Americans, this outsourcing fuels debates over rising crime in cities like Portland (homicides up 83% under Schmidt) and Austin (violent crime surging under Garza). Economically, it strains local budgets—reforms like bail abolition correlate with higher recidivism costs, estimated at $80 billion nationwide for mass incarceration alternatives gone awry.
Politically, it energizes 2026 elections, where recall efforts against DAs like Gascón highlight voter backlash. Lifestyle-wise, communities face uneven justice: Victims in Wren-influenced offices report frustration with lenient policies, while tech-savvy residents use apps to track crime spikes. Sports fans in affected cities, like Austin’s soccer scene, worry about safety at events amid policy shifts.
Broader implications? It erodes trust in democracy, as unelected firms shape laws affecting 330 million lives.
Conclusion: Time to Shine a Light on the Shadows
The Wren Collective’s quiet takeover of progressive DA policies exposes a vulnerability in American justice: Elected officials outsourcing to secretive firms without transparency or accountability. As FOIA revelations mount, calls grow for reforms like mandatory disclosures to reclaim local control.
Looking ahead, expect more scrutiny—and potential lawsuits—as voters demand DAs serve communities, not consultants. For U.S. citizens, this saga urges vigilance: Justice shouldn’t be for hire.